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Pensioner arrested after shoplifting spree

The Local Austria
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Pensioner arrested after shoplifting spree
The church in the centre of Gols. Photo: Travel Austria

A pensioner has been arrested in Burgenland after allegedly shoplifting on as many as 120 separate occasions, in less than four months.

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The 62-year-old was spotted acting suspiciously in a number of shops and when he was confronted by a supermarket manager in Gols on Monday he pushed her away, ran out of the shop, and tried to flee on his bike.

The woman and a colleague gave chase and later found him hiding in a bush. They handed him over to the police.

A police spokesman told the Austrian Press Agency that the pensioner always had the same routine - two or three times a day he would go shoplifting and hide everyday items such as food and cleaning products under his jacket, and just pay for a bottle of mineral water at the checkout. It’s estimated that he stole goods worth a total of €4,000.

The man reportedly aroused suspicions after asking several times how he could withdraw money with an ATM card. He was also seen holding several grocery items in his hands.

He has since confessed to having committed around 120 thefts from three shops since the beginning of June. He is now in Eisenstadt prison.

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