Multi-year prison sentences: casino robbery with consequences

Just over a year ago, three men unsuccessfully attempted to rob a casino in Vienna. A few days ago, they had to answer for the offence in court and were each sentenced to several years in prison. In today's article, we reveal why a shot was fired during the failed robbery and why the perpetrators did not succeed in making any loot.

In the past, we at GambleJoe have repeatedly reported on casino robberies. We particularly remember a series of 13 casino robberies in Berlin. However, the gang only stole a total of 30,000 euros in 2022. In a recent case, a trial was held in the Austrian capital of Vienna in which three masked and armed men allegedly attempted to rob a casino on 17 April last year.

How did the casino robbery in Vienna in April 2023 go down in detail?

The three male perpetrators allegedly broke into a casino in Favoriten (10th district of Vienna) on the night of 17 April 2023. All of the perpetrators were masked and armed with a softgun or gas pistol. After they entered the premises, however, a security employee stood in their way and fired a warning shot. The robbery trio then decided to flee. In Germany, however, security staff in casinos and amusement arcades generally do not have a weapon and would only contact the police in the event of a robbery.

A case we reported on in November 2022 shows that there are also much more reserved and defensive security staff. In this case, a security guard in a London casino watched as a guest went on the rampage.

Perpetrators were quickly identified in Vienna - but how?

The police managed to find and recover the balaclavas worn by the three suspects during the casino robbery at the scene of the crime. The subsequent analysis of DNA traces led to the identification of the three accused perpetrators. It also emerged that a newspaper article had inspired the men to commit the offence. Here they had learnt that other perpetrators had stolen 100,000 euros in a previous robbery in the same casino.

Around a week ago, the three suspects, aged between 23 and 26, had to answer for their offence in a Viennese court. A panel of lay judges handed down prison sentences of between two and a half and four years. All three defendants had previously confessed fully in court. The judgement is already final.

Image source: https://pixabay.com/de/photos/waffe-pistole-greifen-bewaffnet-3836563/