Two Romanians arrested in Austria after nine construction site thefts / Damage exceeds 50,000 euros

Two Romanian citizens, aged 26 and 35, have been arrested in Austria on suspicion of committing nine break-ins at construction sites in Vienna and the province of Lower Austria. The damage is estimated at more than €50,000.

The investigation began on November 4, after a man discovered several pieces of construction equipment hidden in a wooded area in Vösendorf, near Vienna. Police subsequently identified two Romanian suspects following cooperation between criminal investigation units from Lower Austria, Vienna, and Vösendorf.

The two were arrested in the early hours of November 5, at around 12:30 a.m., while loading tools stolen from a container at a construction site in Vienna into a car. Additional equipment was also found in the vehicle, which investigators believe came from four recent thefts.

According to police, the suspects admitted to nine offenses committed between October 29 and November 4 in St. Pölten, Kirchstetten, Loosdorf, Melk, Kemmelbach, and Vienna. Some of the recovered goods were returned to the affected companies. The two were placed in pre-trial detention at the request of the St. Pölten Public Prosecutor’s Office. The presumption of innocence applies.