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Art lover stole sculptures worth €52,000

A man from Salzburg who is serving a prison sentence for property offences is also an art thief, police have discovered.

Published: 25 June 2014 15:12 CEST
Art lover stole sculptures worth €52,000
Residenz Square, Salzburg. Photo: APA/Helmut Fohringer

The 50-year-old stole six bronze sculptures over the past five years, worth a total of €52,000. His motive was a love of art – he didn't sell them but put them on display in his flat.

On Easter Monday the man was on day release from prison and went to an art fair in the Salzburg Residenz Palace. Whilst he was there he stole a sculpture worth €8,000 from an Upper Austrian art dealer.

Police were able to identify the thief from surveillance camera footage from the art fair – and realised he had a criminal record. 

When the man was questioned he confessed to having stolen the sculpture and showed police the rest of his collection. 

None of the sculptures have been damaged, and they will be returned to their owners. The man said he had taken them because he “has a great interest in art, architecture, and interior design”.

His method for stealing the art was always the same – when he wasn’t being watched he would cover the sculpture with his jacket, and then pick it up and put it under his arm, before taking it back to his apartment where he displayed it on a special stone base he had made for the purpose.

He has been serving his current prison sentence since November 2013 and will now be tried for commercial fraud. His right to day release has been revoked.

 

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CRIME

UPDATED: Vienna police investigating possible ‘threat’ to Donau Zentrum shopping centre

The Viennese police have confirmed they are investigating a possible - and unspecified - threat to the popular shopping centre in the city's 22nd district.

Published: 29 April 2024 17:32 CEST
UPDATED: Vienna police investigating possible 'threat' to Donau Zentrum shopping centre

The Vienna police confirmed they are investigating a non-specified threat to the Donau Zentrum shopping centre, located in the Austrian capital’s 22nd district, a spokesperson told The Local. 

On Monday, pictures of an alleged internal document sent by the shopping centre to tenants circulated on social media and messaging apps. The document stated there was a “threat against the Westfield Donau Zentrum for April 30, 2024”. It stated that the authorities had been working to identify suspects since yesterday.

“The source of the threat is a photo circulating online”, the statement said without giving further details. “If we receive additional information or specifications, we will immediately inform you”, it added.

“There is currently no reason for you as an employee to worry as we are strictly following police guidelines”, the document said. It was signed by a manager of the shopping centre. The Local reached out to Donau Zentrum media representatives, who confirmed a threat against the centre.

“The Center Management of Westfield Donau Zentrum can confirm a threat against the center and is in ongoing communication with the relevant authorities. We are taking the situation seriously. The safety of everyone in the center is our top priority. After coordination with the authorities, the center will be open as usual today”, they said.

The Vienna police confirmed the veracity of the statement and added, “We are aware of the matter and are investigating,” they replied after an inquiry on their official social media channels. The Local reached out to the press office for further clarification but has not yet received a response.

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