09. 11. 11. - 14:32

Second rhino horn theft in Vienna

 By Rebecca Musgrave

A second rhino horn was stolen in Vienna, Austria, yesterday (Tues). Two men stole the object from a taxidermist in Margareten just one day after news came of a rare rhino horn, worth up to 80,000 Euros, that was taken from the city’s Dorotheum auctioneers.

The men entered the shop on Diehlgasse, Vienna, around 2pm and showed interest in the rhino horn that the taxidermist had purchased in an auction at the Dorotheum the day before. According to newspaper Heute, the criminals seized the opportunity to grab the horn and make a run for it when the shop owner was on the telephone. The trophy is thought to be worth 24,000 Euros. The son of the taxidermist has claimed that the men responsible spoke in English.

Police have not ruled out a connection to the theft from the Dorotheum on Monday which was also carried out by two English-speaking men.

An increase in the price of horns, which are a valuable resource in traditional Asian medicine, has resulted in the recent increase of thefts. According to Europol, one horn can fetch between 25,000 and 200,000 Euros, depending on its size.

Stealing of rhino horn is a newer phenomenon. Scotland Yard have recorded 20 thefts in the last six months with further crimes taking place in Portugal, France, The Czech Republic and Sweden. According to Wien Heute, the Natural History Museum in Vienna has taken extra security precautions as a result of this epidemic in order to protect the horns.