"50,000 euros stolen"

Financial problems: Man in Vienna invented robbery

Before his fictitious robbery, the man allegedly stole 50,000 euros in cash (symbolic image).

(Bild: Huber Patrick)

An Austrian man (29) is said to have invented a robbery in Vienna's Leopoldstadt district due to financial difficulties. He tried to make the police believe that two strangers had threatened him with a knife at an ATM. 50,000 euros had been stolen from him. This now has consequences for the man. 

The incident is said to have occurred at the beginning of May. At around 11.20 a.m., the 29-year-old alerted the police and stated that he had been robbed by two unknown men. The robbers, invented by the man, had demanded cash from him and threatened him with a knife.

Robbery invented out of financial hardship
The alleged victim is said to have previously withdrawn 50,000 euros from a bank. The 29-year-old was questioned a second time in mid-May. He confirmed the information again until he finally had to give in due to inconsistent details. "He then stated that he had invented the robbery out of financial hardship," explained police spokeswoman Barbara Gass on Tuesday.

Austrian now faces charges
Nevertheless, the young man now faces consequences. "He will be reported to the criminal investigation department on suspicion of faking a punishable offense and giving false evidence", says Gass.