In Moscow a local resident who turned to police with a report of a stolen car he had sold to dodge a fine was detained
In the city center, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported an unusual case. A man from Moscow, aged 47, came to the police claiming that his car had been stolen. He described parking a Lada on Steelworkers Street and later discovering that the vehicle was missing. The details he provided triggered an immediate police response, as investigators noted the claim and began standard procedures to confirm or refute the allegation.
As the officers conducted their checks, the facts did not align with a genuine theft. The vehicle in question belonged to the man, but records showed the car had already been sold in 2021. The new owner did not, at any point, report the car as stolen, and there had been no reports of theft from law enforcement or the public registry. Instead, a different pattern emerged: the seller began receiving a steady stream of notices for traffic violations tied to the vehicle for which he remained listed as the owner in the registration documents. These notices prompted the seller to take a decisive but unlawful step to avoid paying penalties, culminating in a report to the police that the car had been stolen.
Consequently, the investigation established that there was no theft. The discrepancy between the sale date and the ongoing notices pointed to a knowingly false report. To address this misrepresentation, a criminal case was opened in accordance with article 306 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which covers knowingly false reporting. The suspect requested to be released from custody, and the authorities granted his release on his own request after processing the necessary formalities.
Preceding this incident, another, less connected, event involved a different situation where a driver received a harsh response from law enforcement after confrontations on the road. In that earlier case, a Zhiguli vehicle was taken away following a verbal confrontation with traffic police while the individual was intoxicated. The sequence of events underscores how traffic discipline and accurate reporting are treated seriously by authorities, with swift action taken to investigate discrepancies between claimed and actual circumstances.
The outcome of this case serves as a reminder that police investigations rely on verified information and official records, including vehicle registration data and reliable notices of traffic violations. It also highlights the consequences of submitting false information to law enforcement, which can lead to criminal charges and possible penalties. In Moscow, authorities continue to stress the importance of truthful reporting and adherence to traffic laws, while ensuring that investigations are conducted thoroughly and fairly. This incident illustrates how misreporting can trigger a formal inquiry, even when the presumed scenario involves a vehicle that was previously owned by the complainant. The system relies on accurate registration, registration transfer records, and timely notifications of penalties to separate legitimate claims from fabrications. (Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs)