The incident occurred on June 21, 2015, at around 7:15 p.m. in the Czech Republic, several kilometres from the Okraj Pass. Two men travelling in a VW Passat with Czech registration plates drove up to a petrol station, filled nearly 33 litres of diesel fuel worth approximately PLN 160 into plastic containers, and then drove away without paying.
The petrol station owner, who noticed what had happened, tried to prevent them from escaping, but the men did not respond. The victim notified the Czech police and set off after the fleeing men himself.
When it became clear that the car was travelling towards Poland, the officers informed the duty officer at the Municipal Police Headquarters in Jelenia Góra about the pursuit, and he involved Jelenia Góra police officers in the operation.
The car was stopped in Miłków, near a roundabout. It was being driven by a 27-year-old man who, as it later turned out, did not have a driving licence; his 34-year-old friend was the passenger. In the car, the police found the stolen fuel and Polish registration plates that had been removed. Jelenia Góra residents had fitted Czech plates in their place—plates that had themselves been stolen in the Czech Republic the previous day from a Renault vehicle.
During the escape, the driver committed a series of traffic offences, including failing to obey traffic signals and applicable road signs.
Both perpetrators were detained in police custody. They face detention, restriction of liberty or a fine.
KMP Jelenia Góra/ii