A 40-year-old construction worker from Montenegro has been sentenced by the Vienna Regional Court to a partially suspended prison term of three years. One year of the sentence must be served in prison. In late March, the man attempted to rob a store in Vienna’s Ottakring district of “Magic: The Gathering” cards worth €76,000.
During the robbery attempt, he sprayed several employees with pepper spray. As a result, the panel of judges convicted him not only of attempted aggravated robbery, but also of assault causing bodily harm.
The father of two, who previously had no criminal record, fully confessed and expressed remorse in court. “I deeply regret it. I destroyed my life and the life of my family,” he said. According to his lawyer, the target of the robbery was the particularly rare and highly sought-after “Black Lotus” card. The defendant said financial hardship motivated the crime. He explained that he had seen the high-value trading cards from the Vienna store online while at home in Montenegro and then traveled to the Austrian capital.
“Crime Tourism” Remark During Trial
“In other words, you came to Austria to commit this robbery?” the judge asked, to which the man briefly replied yes. He later added: “I will never come here again.” The prosecutor described the case as “crime tourism.”
The defendant apologized to the store employees, who described the pepper spray attack during testimony. “My eyes were completely swollen,” one employee said. Two workers who suffered minor injuries were each awarded symbolic compensation of €100 for pain and suffering.
Employees reacted quickly during the attempted robbery and managed to overpower the man outside the store while he was trying to flee.
Cards Returned, Some Damaged During Struggle
The trading cards were returned to their rightful owners, although some were damaged during the altercation. The store’s managing director said an insurance company covered the €3,000 in damages.
Due to the defendant’s confession, lack of prior convictions, and other circumstances, the court imposed what the judge described as a “very lenient” sentence. The suspended two-year portion of the sentence comes with a probation period of three years. Time already spent in pretrial detention since late March will count toward the mandatory one-year prison term.
