On December 24, after 4 a.m., the duty officer at the Police Station in Bogatynia was notified of a cross-border chase conducted by German officers after a Ford vehicle that had entered Poland. Police officers from the Bogatynia station were sent to take part in the operation. The vehicle was believed to be carrying men suspected of breaking into basement rooms in a multi-family building in Germany and stealing, among other things, bicycles.
German police officers attempted to stop the driver for a traffic check. However, despite the light and sound signals directed at him, he ignored them and began to flee. Even shots at the tire, which was damaged, failed to stop him. After entering Poland and driving several kilometers, the German officers stopped the car, from which two men ran. One of them was successfully detained.
The fugitive turned out to be a 38-year-old resident of Zgorzelec County, known to Bogatynia police from previous official proceedings. The Ford had license plates assigned to another vehicle, which had been stolen in Zgorzelec. Among other things, bicycles originating from a burglary in Germany were found inside. The man was taken to the police station, while the car was taken to the police parking lot.
Bogatynia police suspected the detainee of breaking into a single-family home in the town. The incident occurred during the night of December 22–23. The perpetrator smashed a window to get inside and stole PLN 6,000. He also attempted to steal a car but was frightened off by the owner, who was sleeping on the upper floor of the building.
Based on the evidence collected, the 38-year-old was charged with burglaries committed in Poland and Germany. In addition, German police officers proved that he had committed other crimes.
He will now answer for the acts before the court. As the suspect had previously been convicted of similar crimes, for which he served a prison sentence, he now faces up to 15 years in prison.