Cowardly robbery

Two men snatched the handbag from a senior citizen (84)

The senior citizen is still shocked and now wears a fanny pack for safety.(Bild: Gerhard Bartel)

Because her bank's hotline was constantly busy, two brazen pickpockets were able to calmly withdraw 1500 euros with their victim's stolen card. Senior citizen Rosa S. will probably never see any more of her money. 

Powerlessness and anger have accompanied Rosa S. (name changed) for a week. "I can't listen to this advertising about the safe city anymore," she says. It was shortly after 6 p.m. when the Viennese woman got off the subway at Kagraner Platz. "I thought I'd walk the distance and avoid the bus," she says.

The sprightly senior citizen (84) was on her way home when two men suddenly snatched her handbag. Everything happened in a flash.

A police officer wanted to help me block the account, but was on the line for three quarters of an hour. In the meantime, the crooks were able to withdraw 500 euros 3 times.

84-jähriges Raubopfer

In addition to money, IDs and keys were missing
"I suspect they've been following me since the subway," said the 84-year-old. The shocked woman alerted the police, who arrived immediately and helped the senior citizen. Her handbag contained cash, ID cards, a notebook, all cards such as e-cards etc. and the key to her apartment.

Vienna police are looking for the perpetrators
"A police officer wanted to help me block the account, but he was on the line for three quarters of an hour. In the meantime, the crooks were able to withdraw 500 euros three times," says the victim angrily. She never saw the dark-haired men's faces. Now she hopes that the images from the surveillance cameras will be conclusive. She had deposited a second apartment key with her brother, so she was not locked out. To avoid becoming an easy victim again, Ms. Rosa S. now carries a fanny pack.