Threatened with destruction

Man wanted thousands of euros finder’s fee for cell phone

A 26-year-old man found a cell phone in a restaurant in Sölden in Tyrol at the weekend. But instead of handing it in to the police, a lost property office or simply the waiter, he subsequently demanded a four-figure finder's fee. However, the owner went to the police, who were able to locate the smartphone using the search function app. The 26-year-old will now be charged.

On Sunday night, the 26-year-old Austrian found the smartphone in a pub in Sölden (Imst district), which he then tried to steal. "After the owner of the phone offered a finder's fee, the 26-year-old contacted the person who had lost the phone by telephone and demanded a four-figure sum in euros," said the police. He also threatened to destroy the phone if the owner did not pay.

26-year-old is reported at large
However, the cell phone owner did not pay and went to the police instead. The smartphone was located using the tracing app. The cell phone was finally recovered from the 26-year-old's home. "The suspect will be reported at large to the public prosecutor's office in Innsbruck," emphasized the police.