Betrayed himself

“Show-off photo” on cell phone: vending machine burglar busted

He provided the police with the hot lead himself. A thief who specialized in blowing up vending machines was tracked down after a year and a half in the Innviertel region. The 31-year-old had saved a "show-off photo" on his cell phone that linked him to this crime.

Three initially unknown perpetrators had blown up a cigarette vending machine in Kopfing im Innkreis on the night of June 11, 2023 and stolen cash and packs of cigarettes. Münzkirchen police officers have now been able to solve the case - in an unexpected way.

Photo found on cell phone
During a seizure, the Simbach am Inn police (Bavaria) found a screenshot of a newspaper article about the burglary in Kopfing im Innkreis on the cell phone of a 31-year-old German man who had already been arrested for 16 vending machine burglaries. And the officers gave their Innviertel colleagues the right clue.

Data comparison brought success
After all, a data comparison proved that the 31-year-old had committed the crime on June 11, 2023. A 36-year-old accomplice was also identified. The third person involved is still unknown. The two suspects will be reported to the public prosecutor's office in Ried im Innkreis.