DETECTIVE AGENCY PÖCHHACKER

Family Tradition Since 1983

Adapting with Time: Reliable for over 40 years, now with a fresh outlook towards the future.

In the venerable Detective Agency Pöchhacker, which boasts a history spanning over 40 years, a significant generational shift began in 2011.

In 2018, Daniel Pöchhacker ultimately took over the family business from his father, who retired after decades of dedicated work and successful endeavors.

Daniel Pöchhacker - Geschäftsführer, Staatlich geprüfter Berufsdetektiv

Walter Pöchhacker - Staatlich geprüfter und konzessionierter Berufsdetektiv i. R.

BeforeAfter

This transition marked not only an organizational change but also symbolized the continuous commitment to the highest professionalism and tradition that has always distinguished the Detective Agency Pöchhacker. Daniel Pöchhacker now stands at the helm, ready to carry forward the established values while bringing new perspectives and modern methods to lead the agency into the future.

1979
1
From a Temporary Career Solution to a Dream Job
After graduating from the BRG at the Theresian Military Academy, Walter Pöchhacker learned the business of a professional detective assistant from the ground up at what was then the largest detective agency in Europe, based in Vienna. Solving a spectacular hit-and-run case in Burgenland, which had baffled state investigators, became a key experience for him.

What started as a planned temporary career solution turned into a dream job. He managed the Vienna branch with 25 detectives for over three years.
1983
Detective Agency Pöchhacker Ges.m.b.H.
Walter and Ingrid Pöchhacker founded Detective Agency Pöchhacker Ges.m.b.H. located in 1130 Vienna-Hietzing. Initially, the core business of the agency was tackling the growing problem of shoplifting by employing globally innovative video quadrant systems from the former company Eumig.

Shoplifters were caught en masse. Early loyal customers included the then similarly sized LÖWA and BILLA corporations. KONSUM ÖSTERREICH, Meinl, and almost all prominent names followed.

2
1983
1986
3
Detective Shoots Burglar with Rubber Bullet
A controlled use of firearms with less dangerous ammunition from a pump-action shotgun occurred during a night surveillance of a drugstore in 1100 Vienna-Favoriten. Over the years, about a dozen burglars were apprehended. The motive was the then-common practice of leaving 5000 schillings (EUR 360) in change in cash registers and having a weakly secured entrance door.

Walter Pöchhacker was appointed a member of the examination board for the licensed trade of professional detectives for Vienna and Lower Austria.

A training film with clips of actual shopliftings (impossible today due to data protection laws) achieved near-cult status. For years, training on combating shoplifting was conducted nationwide for our clients and the Criminal Police Advisory Service. Later, lectures on personnel offenses were given for the Criminal Department of Lower Austria.
1987
Relocation of Company Headquarters to 1030 Vienna-Landstraße
The company “Europapier” was missing 280 million schillings (EUR 20 million) and its chief accountant Franz Lettmüller, known as “The Pale Franz” was arrested in Salzburg before he could flee abroad. Assets were tracked down and secured.

The book “The 300 Million Coup. The Lettmüller Case” (Torsten Weidnitzer) sparked ongoing assignments in the field of serious economic crime. The company headquarters moved to 1030 Vienna-Landstraße, Landstraßer Hauptstraße 60/1/9 (Entrance Rochusgasse 2).

4
1987
1989
5
Surveillance Does Not Always Lead Directly to the Goal
Three burglars, including a father with his 14-year-old son, visited a BILLA market in 1150 Vienna-Fünfhaus at night. The frightened eyes of the teenager when his father was handcuffed are memorable.

Surveillance does not always lead directly to the goal. A specific case occurred at a LIBRO branch in 1100 Vienna-Favoriten. A police officer familiar with the temporary surveillance broke in repeatedly while on duty when the coast was clear. His superior became suspicious and initiated a house search: bullseye!
1991
Successful Search Ends with a Wedding
A contrasting case prompts a smile. Love at first sight in a crowded bus: Shyness prevented the man from speaking to the woman and paralyzed him from getting off with her. The successful search eventually ended with a wedding. And the acerbic comments from friends that a matchmaking service would be a good addition to the ongoing partner and divorce cases.

6
1991
1992
7
Silver Medal
Walter Pöchhacker won the silver medal in the national championships in practical pistol shooting (IPSC) and confirmed this success in 1993.
1993
Annus horribilis
An armed shoplifter attempted to escape arrest by using a firearm in Vienna-Mariahilf, seriously injuring the detective and then shooting himself in the head – and survived. The motive was panic, fearing that besides the (ridiculously small) stolen goods, a pistol would also be found. A Glock police weapon that the ex-policeman had once stolen from a colleague.

After a series of successful searches for missing persons, the spectacular case of retrieving a school-age girl from Egypt, similar to “Not Without My Daughter,” was achieved. In absentia and without any information, Walter Pöchhacker was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Persistent and fortunately transparent attempts followed to lure him to Egypt with a lucrative-looking assignment.

Six months later, the similar retrieval of a child from Tunisia succeeded. A series of unfortunate events led to the arrest of two escape helpers. They were sentenced – like Walter Pöchhacker in absentia – to six years in prison. Thanks to the full intervention of Foreign Minister Alois Mock, they were pardoned by the Tunisian president after seven months.

8
1993
1994
9
Company Growth
The company grew to 47 employees. Annually, up to ten thousand shoplifters were caught, and about a hundred employee thefts were solved.
1995
Insolvency of KONSUM ÖSTERREICH
The bankruptcy of the “red giant” hit the detective agency with 1.2 million schillings (EUR 87,000) in outstanding receivables. Six years later, the settlement rate was 45 percent.

10
1995
1996
11
My Husband’s Garage is Full of Such Things
The infiltration of a detective as a warehouse worker in a sanitary wholesale company was a sting into a hornet’s nest. Except for the warehouse manager, almost all the warehouse workers and – as accomplices – truck drivers were stealing like ravens. A forwarding company was needed to maintain operations. Arrests and media reports had unforeseen consequences: “My husband’s garage is full of such things” the wife of the warehouse manager told the police. Her motive: a “cheap” divorce! Now the team was complete.

The KONSUM was filleted, and the buyers had branches with often catastrophic inventory discrepancies scrutinized. An exemplary operation in 1130 Vienna-Hietzing: Of the entire staff, only two cleaners were NOT convicted of theft (the surveillance of their employees was always taboo during KONSUM times).
1998
Natascha Kampusch
The Kurier commissioned the search for Natascha Kampusch, who had been missing for ten days. The well-intentioned acceptance of the assignment turned out to be Walter Pöchhacker’s gravest professional mistake.

12
1998
2001
13
Burgenland Special Commission
Pointed-out errors of the then responsible security office (SB) led to the formation of a Burgenland special commission after a public scandal, which “pretended to be doing something“.
2004
When Policemen Step Over Dead Bodies
The elder son, Stefan Pöchhacker, temporarily joined the company after his graduation from the Higher Technical Federal Teaching and Research Institute (HTBLA) in Vienna-Favoriten and his military service. The book “The Natascha Case“.

“When Policemen Step Over Dead Bodies” (Walter Pöchhacker) caused a stir and the anger of several named individuals. Unfortunately, no one sued!

14
2004
2006
15
Spiral of Cover-Up
After the reappearance of Natascha Kampusch, the unsuccessful Burgenland special commission took over the investigations again. The spiral of cover-up and several special commissions almost resulted in criminal records for two committed ex-senior judges.

Contrary to the claims of having done everything possible to shed light on the matter, Walter Pöchhacker was quietly not interviewed.
2010
Professional Detective Assistant
The younger son, Daniel Pöchhacker, earned his stripes as a professional detective assistant after graduating from the Higher Technical Federal Teaching and Research Institute (HTBLA) in Vienna-Favoriten and his military service with the guard.

16
2010
2011
17
Ges.m.b.H. becomes KG
The Detective Agency Pöchhacker Ges.m.b.H. was converted into Detective Agency Pöchhacker KG.

Daniel Pöchhacker served as managing director alongside Walter Pöchhacker. The core business shifted to family, rental, and labor law.
2014
Individual Qualification for the Security Industry
Walter Pöchhacker was granted individual qualification for the security industry. Since then, the entire security trade (professional detectives, security industry) could be practiced.

18
2014
2017
19
Professional Detective Trade
Daniel Pöchhacker successfully passed the qualification exam for the now-regulated professional detective trade at the master examination office of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce.
2018
Retirement, Transition
Walter and Ingrid Pöchhacker retired, and their son Daniel took the helm as the sole managing director. Daniel Pöchhacker was also certified with individual qualification for the security industry.

20
2018
2019
21
Mysterious Case of Detective Agency Pöchhacker
The book “SILENCED. Why the State Makes It Easy for Murderers” (Thomas Trescher) caused a stir. “Someone Must Have Helped. The Daniela B. Case” describes a mysterious case of Detective Agency Pöchhacker from 2007.

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