Burglar caught in the act and arrested in allotment garden house in Vienna-Simmering

According to police, the arrested man is a 35-year-old Slovak national. The officers seized an e-scooter, a backpack, and two bags containing suspected stolen property from him. "One of the bags as well as the backpack could be assigned to the 56-year-old, according to police."

Seized Stolen Property

The bags contained cash, jewelry, and electronic devices, according to the report. After being questioned, the 35-year-old was reported on the orders of the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office while at liberty.

During the further investigation, the man confessed to breaking into the allotment garden house. In addition, he stated that "he had broken into several basement storage units in the vicinity using a bolt cutter." This is likely to reinforce the suspicion of a series of break-ins in the allotment garden settlement.

Confession and Further Burglaries

The incident in Vienna-Simmering had already occurred on Saturday morning, around 6 a.m. Officers arrived quickly at the scene after the emergency call and encountered the alleged perpetrator not far from the scene.

Whether other victims of previously unreported burglaries in the area could be connected to the case was part of the ongoing investigation. The Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office ordered the charge to be filed while at liberty, meaning that the accused does not initially have to await proceedings in pre-trial detention.

For the 56-year-old resident, Saturday morning ended with a fright but with no apparent injuries. She had managed to get herself to safety in time.

Information from the Public

Vienna police pointed out in the course of their statement that attentive neighbors and quick emergency calls play a central role in solving such crimes. The woman's description of the suspect also helped officers "in moving forward" in rapidly identifying the suspect.

Investigations into possible further offenses in basement storage units around the allotment garden complex are ongoing. Police continue to accept any relevant information.

Law enforcement authorities made the incident public on Sunday. The exact amount of property damage as well as the amount of cash seized and the value of the items found were not initially quantified.