Youth gang sentenced

Burglar (16): “Wanted to pay back debts”

One of the crime scenes: the outdoor pool in Hallein.(Bild: Stadt Hallein)

Wearing white shirts, the six youths sit in the jury courtroom. None of them are innocent: they are accused of a series of burglaries. They admit to most of the charges, but remain silent about the details.

All six of the accused teenagers, aged between 15 and 17, are conspicuously wearing white. However, only two of them have a clean criminal record, as their criminal records show: Four of the six have been convicted before. They have obviously learned nothing, as the massive accusations show.

Above all, the burglars caused enormous damage to property.(Bild: Stadt Hallein)

Even for the public prosecutor at the trial on Monday, there were too many offenses to present in detail: "That would go beyond the scope." The short version: 74 crimes, including 54 burglaries, are said to have been committed by the group in different crews in the previous year. The young criminals broke into 14 swimming pools alone. But tobacconists, restaurants and a fashion store were also targeted. The loot alone - excluding damage to property - amounted to around 40,000 euros. And for the most part, the young people admitted the accusations through their defense lawyers.

The judge asked the main offender, who was involved in most of the crimes, why: "I wanted to pay back debts." He was in debt to the tune of 70,000 euros - payments from a serious assault he had caused. He remained silent about further details, such as his accomplices or a chat group to organize the burglaries. He even refused to identify himself when the judge played the surveillance video of an outdoor pool burglary. "I can't remember and don't want to say anything," he said. Victim's lawyer Stefan Launsky asked whether he was able to pay off some of the debt with the loot: "No, I lost the money." How, the judge asked in more detail: "I hid it." He didn't want to say where. But now it is obviously gone.

Three of the six boys are to go to prison
At the end of the trial, he was given the most severe sentence: 20 months unconditional imprisonment. The rest of the youth gang received sentences ranging from six months' conditional imprisonment to 15 months' partial imprisonment - three of the boys are to spend a few more months in prison. The majority of the sentences are not final.