Detention of a Lithuanian citizen suspected of car theft

It all started in mid-September 2026, when a series of attempts and car thefts occurred in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. First, an attempted theft of four vehicles was reported in Elbląg, and a few days later, two cars disappeared in Olsztyn and Orzysz. Another car was stolen in Ełk.

Police officers from various units immediately began intensive operational and procedural activities. Evidence was collected, surveillance footage and traces left at crime scenes were secured. The aim was to determine whether all these events had a common perpetrator.

International cooperation is the key to success

The first findings indicated that a Lithuanian citizen may be behind the thefts. Police officers from Olsztyn established cooperation with colleagues from Białystok, as well as with officers from Lithuania and Germany. It turned out that the suspect specialized in breaking the security of cars, which were then transported to Lithuania.

A breakthrough in the investigation occurred thanks to cooperation with the German police. It was established that on the night of September 30 to October 1, the 34-year-old stole a car in Wismar, Germany, and tried to smuggle it through Poland to Lithuania.

Chase and arrest on the S61 route

Coordinated actions of the services led to the tracking of the stolen vehicle on the S61 route in the Łomża poviat. The man tried to run away, but he was quickly detained by police officers from Olsztyn and Białystok. It turned out that he did not have a driving license and the value of the recovered car was as much as EUR 21,000.

The 34-year-old was taken into police custody. He has already been charged with seven charges: four of attempted theft, three of burglary and a charge of receiving stolen goods. The court decided to temporarily arrest him for three months.