Caught in the act

14-year-old girl from Graz allegedly a serial shoplifter

A 14-year-old girl from Graz was caught stealing from a drugstore. During questioning, she pulled out a knife and threatened the employees (symbolic image).

(Bild: APA/HERBERT PFARRHOFER)

A 14-year-old girl is suspected of having committed countless shopliftings, robbery and serious damage to property. The value of the stolen items is believed to be over 10,000 euros.

On Tuesday evening, the teenager was caught red-handed shoplifting by employees of a drugstore in a shopping center. She had probably already committed shoplifting in this store on several occasions. When questioned by the employees, the unknown woman pulled out a pocket knife, threatened the employees with it and used the employees' retreat to flee. A manhunt was unsuccessful.

Damage to property with spray paint
At around 8 p.m., the façade of this store was damaged by an initially unknown perpetrator using spray paint. During the subsequent investigation, the identity of the suspect was established. She is a 14-year-old girl from Graz, who was also clearly recognized as a suspect in the previous shopliftings.

Teenager confesses
During the interrogation, the teenager confessed fully and stated that she had repeatedly committed shoplifting in various shopping centers in Graz and the surrounding area since elementary school. She had wanted to support herself as she had not received any pocket money. In recent weeks, she had spent the night in the toilets of shopping centers and attended school during the day.

Goods worth 10,000 euros stolen
During a search of the mother's apartment, who stated that she had not noticed her daughter's absence, and in a cellar compartment, countless perfumes, toiletries, bags and clothing were seized. The total value of these stolen goods is estimated to be over 10,000 euros. By order of the Graz public prosecutor's office, the suspect was taken to Graz-Jakomini prison.