The perpetrators—two Czech repeat offenders and an Albanian—are under temporary arrest. They committed or attempted a total of 14 offences, causing losses of nearly PLN 80,000.

The perpetrators—41-year-old Miroslav N., 46-year-old Quazim Q. and 41-year-old Albanian Hysni P.—operated along the A4 motorway in our area from 26 September 2014 to 12 December 2014. Their method involved first observing people exchanging currency at an exchange office or shopping at petrol stations, then puncturing the tires of their vehicles and following their victims.

When, after some time, the car owners realized that they had a punctured tire and changed the wheel, the defendants stopped near their vehicles and stole handbags and pouches containing cash and documents, as well as electronic equipment, from the cars.

Miroslav N. and Quazim Q. managed to commit offences in nine cases. They robbed the owners of nearly PLN 80,000. In four cases, they attempted to steal: although the defendants punctured the vehicles’ tires, they failed to take anything because, for example, the driver pulled into a petrol station or police officers provided assistance.

In the final case, on the night of 11 December 2014, the perpetrators were caught in the act. The police had been observing the car parks near the motorway for some time. They were looking for a vehicle from a Czech rental company.

The police had previously established cooperation with their Czech counterparts and determined that a certain group of people had been committing thefts in the Czech Republic using the same method and travelling in a rented car.

Their suspicions were confirmed. This made it possible to apprehend the defendants. It turned out that two of them were men who had been convicted of theft in the Czech Republic and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. Thus, they committed the offences in Poland as repeat offenders, which means they face more severe criminal liability.

In two cases, the prosecutor also charged Miroslav N. and Quazim Q. with exposing drivers to the direct danger of suffering at least serious bodily harm, since damage to the wheels resulted in the sudden bursting of a tire in two vehicles after they had travelled several or several dozen kilometres. N. and Q. were charged with committing and attempting to commit theft as repeat offenders, as well as exposing two drivers to the direct danger of suffering serious bodily harm. They face up to 7.5 years in prison.

Albanian Hysni P. was charged with attempting to commit two offences. Although he had previously been convicted, he is not a repeat offender under the law. He faces up to five years in prison. All three men were placed in temporary custody.

All three admitted to the acts with which they were charged and gave explanations. The men also declared that they wished to voluntarily submit to punishment without a trial. The prosecutor agreed and arranged the following sentences with them:

  • for Miroslav N.—the organizer of the operation—an unconditional prison sentence of 2 years and 9 months
  • for Quazim Q.—an unconditional prison sentence of 2 years
  • for Hysni P.—a one-year prison sentence suspended for a three-year probation period.

The defendants will also have to repair the damage they caused. The case will be heard by the District Court in Legnica.

District Prosecutor’s Office/ii