Gang of young burglars

Published: Allgemeiner Tiroler Anzeiger / 3 February 1937

About this text...

The article about two young people who went on raids for basic foodstuffs and coal shows the hardship in Innsbruck in the 1930s. It is also interesting that their origins in the infamous abattoir block are emphasised several times. During the years that went down in history as Austrofascism, the social democratically orientated municipal housing estates were a particular enemy. 

The article

The Innsbruck criminal investigation department has reportedly arrested two boys aged 15 and 16 who lived in the slaughterhouse block and had been carrying out their robberies from there for more than half a year. They were a real terror to the businessmen of the whole neighbourhood and had the cheek to boast of their crimes to other boys. The following burglaries have been proven so far: Branch of Therese Mölk, Viaduktbogen 5 (large quantities of food, sardines, salami, etc.); grocery store Ischia u. Co., Erzherzog-Eugen-Stratze (vermouth wine and large quantities of sardines): Trafik Plattner, Erzherzog-Eugen-Straße (cigarettes, chocolate and money); warehouse of the city building authority in Viadukt Bogen (several sacks of coal): Master butcher Tschon, Schlachthofblock (sausages): Rufinatscher general store in Schlachthofblock (large amount of food); two break-ins at the Mölk company (some food, they couldn't take any more because they were scared away both times); display burglary at Hindenburgplatz (several bottles of liqueurs, confectionery and chocolate); display burglary at "Frifa", Wilhelm- Greil-Straße (several handbags, wallets and purses): Display burglary in Maria-Theresien[1]Straße at the Dannhauser company (shirts, pullovers, ties etc.); display burglary at the Hammerle toy shop, Maria-Theresien-Straße (toys): Shoplifting from the Sailer tobacconist's in Pfarrgaffe (they were scared away here); also opportunist thefts from the Stauder and Sterzinger general stores in Pradler Straße (food), Mayer general store in Weyerburggasse (cigarettes), Kritzinger coal store in Defreggerstraße (coal). Some of the stolen items were seized by the police, the food, cigarettes and coal were smuggled or sold by the boys.