Tobacconist robbed

Young tobacconist robbers arrived by train

The robbed tobacconist's in Graz

(Bild: Sepp Pail)

In broad daylight on Monday, two Czechs (both 21 years old) robbed a tobacconist's in the Lend district of Graz. They held a knife to the employee's face and demanded cash. A few hours after the crime, they were arrested in a hotel room at the train station.

The summer weather did not stop two Czechs from robbing a tobacconist's in the Lend district of Graz on Monday afternoon. Apparently, the men, who had 15 and 17 criminal records in their home country, did not care about being recognized. Shortly before they robbed the employee of a tobacconist's, they strolled through the street and even chatted to the victim - only to later rob him with a cap and sunglasses, hold a knife in front of his nose and make off with the money! As it turned out, they had arrived by train to commit the robbery at around 4.20 pm.

Went chic shopping with the loot
As the woman refused to hand over the money, the robbers rummaged through the room themselves and actually found the till key. While one of them emptied the till, his accomplice took the bills from the sales counter. Then they ran off. They looked for a cab, got in and were taken to the train station. They got out at a brothel and walked from there to a hotel, where they checked in. Of course, they knew what to do with the money: After checking in, they drove into the city center to shop for modern sneakers and clothes.

Police officers arrested the two 21-year-olds in their hotel room that night on suspicion of the crime.

Polizei-Pressesprecher Markus Lamb

Criminal clothing, weapon and loot seized

As usual, the robbery unit of the Styrian State Criminal Police Office took over the investigation. The investigators followed up tip after tip, trawling through bars, cab drivers, brothels and hotels. They found out that the suspects had already consumed something in a pub. They also spoke to the taxi driver who had taken them to the station. They then searched all the hotels near the station and soon hit the jackpot. The investigators "disturbed" the pair in their room while they were celebrating their booty. They were less than enthusiastic about the "intruders", which is why the Rapid Intervention Group (SIG) was called in to support the arrest. In the room, the police discovered not only the criminal's clothing and a knife with a wooden handle - the murder weapon - but also the stolen cash from the tobacconist.

The two young men are now in Graz-Jakomini prison. While one of them has confessed, his partner does not want to say anything about the robbery and has asked for a lawyer.