Police in the city of Linz have shut down an illegal prostitution operation after discovering that three children were present inside the apartment where the activity was taking place, authorities confirmed last week.
The investigation began when a concerned neighbor reported to police that unknown men were regularly coming and going from an apartment in the Kleinmünchen district of Linz. Officers also found an online advertisement that suggested illegal prostitution was being offered at the address. That information was enough to launch a formal investigation.
Children Found Inside
When authorities carried out a coordinated raid on the apartment, they found three adults and three minors — aged five, thirteen, and seventeen. According to investigators, sexual acts had been performed in the presence of the children.
Child protective services were immediately brought in and took steps to ensure the safety of all three minors.
Michael Raml, the city councillor responsible for public safety, made clear that there was no room for leniency in cases involving children. “When minors are involved, one thing is certain: protecting children comes first. There can be absolutely no tolerance here,” he said.
City officials noted that while deeply troubling, cases where children are present at such locations are relatively rare — occurring only about one to two times per year.
A Widespread Problem
The raid is part of a broader effort to crack down on illegal prostitution in Linz. Last year, city authorities uncovered 47 illegal brothels — most of which were ordinary apartments where women offered services, often advertised through online platforms.
By contrast, Linz has just ten legal, licensed establishments, most of them so-called “walk-in houses.” Traditional brothels are far less common.
The shift of sex work into private apartments has led to some unexpected consequences. There have been reports of Airbnb hosts returning from a weekend trip only to find their apartment sealed off by police — because it had been used as an illegal brothel while they were away. Only the providers face legal consequences; customers generally do not.
Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic helped push more sex work underground. When official venues were forced to close in 2020, demand didn’t disappear — it just moved online. Workers and clients connected through internet forums, and the practice of operating out of private apartments became more common and has largely stayed that way.
Help Is Available
Last autumn, police and city officials carried out another significant operation, identifying four separate locations in Linz suspected of hosting illegal prostitution.
Anyone involved in or affected by sex work can seek help at “Lena,” a Caritas counseling center in Linz that offers advice, support, and guidance.