In custody in Salzburg

Lithuanians looted hundreds of safe deposit boxes

The looted safe deposit boxes(Bild: APA/LPD N LKA)

Three men from Lithuania have been arrested for allegedly breaking into and looting hundreds of safe deposit boxes in several federal states. Amount of damage: 545,000 euros! The suspects are in custody in Puch. A search is underway for a 45-year-old possible accomplice.

The suspects are between 43 and 52 years old and all Lithuanian citizens. Between November 2020 and November 2023, they allegedly broke into passbook safe deposit boxes in Salzburg, Lower Austria, Styria, Upper Austria and Vorarlberg a total of thirteen times. They were after cash, gold and silver bars and jewelry. According to investigators, the perpetrators proceeded very professionally and with a division of labor, scouting out the crime scenes for months beforehand.

The stolen goods of the three men from the burglaries in five federal states(Bild: APA/LPD N LKA)

The first suspect (43) was arrested by detectives on November 12 while he was on his way to the Czech Republic. When they searched his vehicle, the officers found 64,500 euros as well as gold coins and jewelry in a cavity. His accomplices (45 and 52 years old) were stopped on their way to Vienna on the same day and were also arrested at Vienna Central Station. They had 20,600 euros in cash, tools and other evidence with them.

The three perpetrators are now in custody in Puch. A man from Lithuania (45) is being sought throughout Europe. All of them have previous convictions abroad. 

The group of perpetrators is said to have stolen a total of 380,000 euros worth of cash and property. According to the police, the damage to property amounts to a further 165,000 euros.