A 52-year-old man was detained in Moscow in connection with the theft of mirrors from nine passenger cars. The incident caused damage surpassing 1 million rubles, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs Media. The authorities indicate that the suspect targeted foreign vehicles whose side mirrors were left in an underground parking facility on Pokryshkina Street for a period of time. In the police statement, it is explained that the thief sold the stolen mirrors to third parties after taking them from the vehicles.
The man reportedly used the proceeds from selling the mirrors at his own discretion, without any formal agreement with buyers or accomplices. As a result, a criminal case has been opened under Part 2 of Article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which covers theft. If convicted, the maximum penalty could reach five years of imprisonment. The suspect was released on his own recognizance as the investigation continued.
Earlier news from the region reported a separate case in Belarus, where a suspect was detained for deceiving several dozen car buyers through fictitious advertisements, prompting broad public attention and ongoing investigations across neighboring countries. The current Moscow case underscores ongoing concerns about vehicle parts crime and the challenges of policing transnational or cross-city schemes that exploit gaps in storage and security at parking facilities. The monitoring bodies have urged car owners to secure their vehicles and report any suspicious activity promptly to the authorities, emphasizing the potential impact of such thefts on both property owners and the broader market for auto components. The information comes from official updates released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs Media, which continues to track similar incidents and coordinate with regional law enforcement to deter similar offenses.