Dangerous pursuit

Vespa thief flees from Vienna police with drugs

With drugs in his luggage, the 17-year-old is said to have fled from the police on the stolen Vespa (symbolic image).

(Bild: APA/Hans Klaus Techt, Krone KREATIV)

A teenager (17) had a dangerous chase with the police on Monday evening in Vienna's Brigittenau district: the youngster allegedly raced through the streets on a Vespa he had stolen. While fleeing from the officers, the Austrian is said to have driven on sidewalks several times. Passers-by were only able to save themselves by jumping to the side!

This action can no longer be dismissed as youthful recklessness. Officers became aware of the young hooligan in the Heinestraße area at around 8.10 pm. He is said to have sped through the 30 km/h zone at around 70 km/h. The 17-year-old ignored all signs from the police to finally stop - the pursuit was taken up ...

Saved by jumping to the side
With his headlights switched off, the driver fled, driving on sidewalks several times and putting several people in danger. "The pedestrians and cyclists there were only able to prevent a collision by jumping to the side or quickly diverting," said police spokesman Mattias Schuster. The chase finally came to an end when the teenager suddenly crashed the vehicle and fled on foot in Rebhanngasse - he was caught and arrested. 

Teenager would have found Vespa
In addition to speeding and endangering several passers-by, it turned out that the getaway vehicle had already been reported stolen by a young man on August 8. In addition, the license plate on the Vespa was registered to another motorcycle. According to the 17-year-old, he had found the vehicle. However, he later claimed to have bought it from an unknown man. But the tip of the iceberg finally came: the driver was also carrying cannabis. 

As a result of the fall, he received medical treatment in hospital and was subsequently taken to a prison by order of the public prosecutor's office. He also received several charges.