Vienna police are warning residents about a worrying series of break-ins where criminals use corrosive acid to attack apartment door locks, according to Austria Press Agency. So far, three cases have been reported in the districts of Landstraße and Meidling, and investigators fear there could be more. What might look at first like a damaged or dirty lock could in fact be a serious danger to anyone who touches it.
According to the police, the suspects are believed to be using nitric acid to weaken or dissolve parts of the lock, making it easier to force the door open. This acid is highly corrosive and can cause burns to the skin, damage to the eyes, and irritation of the airways if its fumes are inhaled. Anyone who notices unusual marks, corrosion, or sticky or wet residue on their lock should avoid touching it with bare hands. If contact does happen, the affected area must be rinsed immediately with plenty of clear water. The police clearly stress that no soap or other substances should be used, as these could trigger further chemical reactions and make the injury worse.
The Vienna regional criminal office, specifically the Kremser unit, has taken over the investigation. Officers say the method the burglars are using is already known from earlier cases, suggesting this is a familiar pattern rather than a completely new tactic. That raises the possibility that the same group, or criminals copying them, are active again in the city.
The current wave of incidents began in early March. Between 6 and 11 March, unknown perpetrators managed to force their way into an apartment in Landstraße after attacking the front door. Once inside, they searched the rooms thoroughly. Several cupboards were broken open, along with two small safes built into pieces of furniture. It is still unclear whether anything was actually stolen; the residents and the police are still checking what might be missing. In the same apartment building, another flat was targeted, but there the break-in attempt failed and the intruders did not get inside.
A similar case occurred in Meidling between 7 and 11 March. Again, there were clear signs of an attempted break-in at an apartment door. This time, a neighbor spotted the damage and called the police, possibly preventing the burglars from returning to finish the job.
For now, authorities are asking people in Vienna to be especially alert. Residents should examine their door locks carefully, avoid touching suspicious damage, and call the police immediately if they notice anything unusual or see strangers behaving oddly in stairwells. In a city where most people pass through the same doors every day without a second thought, the idea that a simple touch on a lock could burn the skin adds a new and unsettling layer of fear to the threat of burglary.
