TL;DR
Two burglars who broke into a restaurant and attempted to escape down Ischgl's ski slopes at 2am were caught after an alert snowcat driver spotted them hiding in trees. Austrian police used snow groomers to reach the remote location and apprehend the suspects.
Burglars' ski slope escape plan fails after snowcat operator spots them
Two men who burgled a restaurant in Ischgl and attempted to escape down the ski slopes on skis at 2am were arrested after a snow groomer operator spotted them hiding in trees. The incident on 30 March 2026 saw Austrian police transported up the mountain in snowcats to apprehend the suspects.
The late-night break-in and escape attempt
Shortly after 2am, the pair broke into an office inside a local restaurant at the Austrian resort, stealing cash before strapping on skis and heading down freshly groomed slopes towards the valley. An employee living at the property noticed the break-in and immediately contacted police.
The remote alpine location presented obvious logistical challenges for law enforcement. Police from PI-Ischgl needed to be ferried up the mountain in snow groomers to reach the suspects - not exactly the standard pursuit vehicle, but the only practical option given the terrain and time of night.
