– Officers from the Motor Crime Division of the Wrocław Provincial Police Headquarters, working with police officers from Austria and Germany as well as Europol, spent many months investigating an organized criminal group involved in vehicle theft, dealing in stolen car parts and components, and insurance fraud – emphasizes Superintendent Przemysław Ratajczyk from the Wrocław Provincial Police Headquarters.
And he adds: – Intensive, many-hour operational work and a series of investigative and forensic activities resulted in the arrest of 9 group members, including its leader, as well as the seizure of equipment used to steal cars, several hundred car parts and more than a dozen vehicles, along with over PLN 100,000 in cash.
In carrying out this multifaceted and extremely complex case, officers from nearly all divisions of the criminal branch of the Lower Silesian provincial headquarters took part, in addition to police officers who deal with combating vehicle crime on a daily basis, as did criminal investigators from Jelenia Góra and Wrocław counterterrorism officers. The spokesperson:
In the course of their activities, the officers “visited” 16 locations in Lower Silesia, where during searches of residential and warehouse premises they seized, among other things: devices used for the unauthorized opening and starting of vehicles, the so-called “suitcases,” a gas pistol, 21 license plates, cash amounting to over PLN 100,000 in various currencies, and nearly 200 car parts and components.
And he adds:
Also placed in police deposit parking lots were 5 vehicles that had been involved in road collisions intended to fraudulently obtain insurance payments. As security for future penalties, officers also seized 5 Audi and Porsche vehicles worth more than PLN 1 million in total, as well as 9 Mercedes Sprinter vans, which were used to transport parts from stolen vehicles.
Seven of those arrested were placed in temporary custody. The gang members face up to 10 years in prison. Its leader could spend as many as 15 years behind bars.