Tattoo leads to arrest of Vienna acid burglary gang leader – apprehended in Bratislava
A 150-euro security camera in a hallway brought down the head of a burglary gang that has targeted around 160 Vienna apartments since 2022.
Tattoo on upper arm exposes Georgian former wrestler as gang leader
A security camera purchased for 150 euros has, after nearly four years of investigation, exposed the alleged leader of a gang that drips nitric acid into door locks to gain access to flats. According to the Kronen Zeitung, the 36-year-old Georgian Besiki S. was arrested last week in Bratislava by Slovak target officers – on the basis of an Austrian EU arrest warrant.
In the early hours of 19 August, the camera app on the phone of Verena (name changed) activated at 2.42 a.m. The couple were on holiday in Lower Austria at the time. On the live feed, two men could be seen calmly pulling on gloves and rummaging through the bedroom of the flat in Vienna's Weißgerberviertel district. They were searching for cash, gold coins and jewellery.
"We had to watch as the burglars went into the bedroom. They really ransacked and threw everything around," Verena told the Kronen Zeitung.
Camera alarm chases off pair – but provides crucial image
Half asleep, Verena tapped on her phone screen and triggered the camera alarm. The shrill device scared the two men out of the bedroom. They grabbed the camera and fled – just a minute before police arrived. "If I hadn't pressed the button, they probably would have left before the police got there anyway," said Verena.
Crucial, however, was what the camera had recorded beforehand: one of the men was wearing a T-shirt that revealed a tattoo on his upper arm. Investigators in several European countries were familiar with this motif – it belongs to Besiki S., a former wrestler who had won medals in major Asian championships as an active competitor.
Former athlete sought since 2020 – forged passports enabled travel across Europe
Besiki S. has been sought by Sweden since 2020. Yet he repeatedly managed to enter and leave European countries. Forged travel documents and a changed surname are believed to have played a role, according to Austrian authorities. He apparently showed a preference for Austria: he is considered substantially responsible for the majority of the Vienna burglary series that began in November 2022.
Following the issuance of the EU arrest warrant, Slovak officers struck when Besiki S. was passing through Bratislava on his way home to Georgia. Austrian investigators are now awaiting his extradition to Vienna. At least six burglaries can already be securely attributed to him.
Nitric acid in door locks – 160 flats, damage in the millions
The gang's method has been the same for years: first, flats are scouted and marked with a hair-thin adhesive thread. Door peepholes are covered – including those of neighbours. Then the perpetrators drip toxic nitric acid into the locks and wait until they dissolve. Since 2022, this method has been used on around 160 Vienna flats, primarily in the Landstraße district. The total damage amounts to millions of euros.
The affected couple had ordered the camera online after the Weißgerberviertel had been particularly frequently targeted by the gang since November 2022. On the evening before the burglary, the perpetrators had already scouted the flat and attached the adhesive thread.
Second Georgian suspect arrested in Berlin
One day after the arrest in Bratislava came the next success: in Berlin, another Georgian suspect was caught red-handed during a burglary. V. N. (48) is believed to have left his DNA at at least two acid burglaries in Vienna-Penzing.
Verena and her husband had to temporarily leave their flat after the burglary. The arrests, however, are likely to relieve the couple – and show that the camera purchased for 150 euros ultimately turned out to be worth far more than its price suggested.
Source: Kronen Zeitung