During a major exercise

Cheeky thieves stole two assault rifles from the army

During the large-scale exercise "Schutzschild 24", training has also taken place at Klagenfurt Airport in recent days.(Bild: Bundesheer/Martin Eiper)

Everything actually went according to plan during the large-scale exercise. But now the army reported a break-in in a military vehicle. Two assault rifles, magazines and a protective vest were stolen. 

The otherwise large and very successful army exercise "Schutzschild 24" ended on a sour note (the "Krone" reported).

While soldiers were training for military national defense, unknown perpetrators broke into a locked military vehicle in Althofen last Sunday and stole two fully automatic StG77 assault rifles, as has only now become known.

Unknown perpetrators stole two assault rifles, the associated magazines and a protective vest from the military vehicle.

Christoph Hofmeister, Bundesheer-Sprecher

Investigations are underway
"The vehicle in question was an army van," confirmed army spokesman Christoph Hofmeister. In addition to the assault rifles, magazines and a protective vest were also stolen. The theft was reported, according to the army. The police have started an investigation.

Not the first incident
The two assault rifles are not the only weapons to have gone missing from the Austrian Armed Forces. In 2020, for example, a Glock 17 service weapon disappeared because soldiers had left the civilian driver of a Carinthian bus full of assault rifles and pistols unattended. This pistol is also still missing.