A local resident reported the disappearance of his VAZ-2105, parked in the 4th microdistrict, to Zelenograd police, according to Interior Ministry media updates.
The police quickly identified the suspects in the case. They were two young men, aged 18 and 19, from the Moscow region.
Under cover of darkness, the pair gained access to the Zhiguli, replaced the car numbers, and installed a battery they had brought with them. The motives behind this deliberate, almost meticulous effort to steal an old car remained unclear to investigators and to the owner alike.
The owner, a 27-year-old local, faced potential losses estimated up to 50 thousand rubles due to the incident. In a turn of events, the vehicle was impounded by authorities and, after the legal process unfolds, would be returned to its owner along the route to the address of recovery.
A criminal case has been opened under Part 2 of Article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The charge covers theft carried out by a group with prior consent. If conviction occurs, the implicated individuals could face up to five years in prison. In line with the circumstances, authorities opted to impose restraint on the suspects in the form of a written undertaking not to leave the area and to maintain proper conduct while the case proceeds.
The public record includes a video note referencing a post on YouTube for further context.