Now in custody

Shopping center fire led to poor thief

A cigarette that had not been extinguished gave away the hiding place of a serial thief in Pasching(Bild: Valeri Vatel)

At the age of 22, he has no home and no job. But the way he kept his head above water is unacceptable: A 22-year-old became a serial thief and burglar in Pasching, but betrayed himself when he mistakenly set fire to his warehouse.

Between September 8 and September 22, 2024, the unaccounted-for 22-year-old allegedly committed a total of 20 thefts and burglaries in a shopping center in Pasching, as well as two document suppressions.

Quickly extinguished, but loot found
On 8 September 2024 at around 10.45 p.m., a small fire broke out in the ventilation system of the shopping center. It was determined that the person without a shelter had set up camp in the unlocked ventilation center and a small fire broke out, presumably from a cigarette, which was quickly extinguished. During the police check, various stolen goods were found on the 22-year-old.

Arrest ordered
In the subsequent investigations, the suspect was charged with ten burglaries, six of which were completed, five thefts, two misappropriations of non-cash means of payment, two counts of damage to property, one count of fraudulent misuse of data processing and two counts of suppression of documents. The Linz public prosecutor's office ordered his arrest and the 22-year-old was taken to Linz prison.