In Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, a group of young people stole a parked Toyota and began driving it around the city, drawing the attention of traffic police who reported the incident on the Sakhalin Region UGIBDD Telegram channel. One suspect was later captured during the chase and documented for the public via the channel, highlighting a case that quickly escalated from a late-night joyride to a formal police investigation.
Officers said the driver tried to outrun them, aggressively accelerating as they pursued with flashing lights and audible signals to signal the vehicle to stop. The pursuit went through several city blocks before the stolen car reached Ankudinov Avenue, where the driver steered the vehicle into a dead end. In that moment, the driver and two passengers attempted to flee on foot, abandoning a car that had been taken without permission and used without the owner’s consent.
During the subsequent manhunt, law enforcement managed to detain one of the occupants, an 18-year-old male who appeared to be a primary participant in the theft. The traffic police team immediately notified the owner of the Toyota Corolla Fielder, who confirmed that the vehicle had indeed been stolen and quickly learned that it had been located by the authorities. The police stated that a criminal case had been opened in connection with the theft, signifying a transition from a sensational incident on the streets to a formal criminal investigation with potential charges and a broader review of the circumstances surrounding the theft and the vehicle’s use in the city.
Earlier in the day, the regional news cycle carried a lighter, more cinematic tale from Nizhny Tagil, where a motorcyclist appeared around town dressed as Batman, offering a stark contrast to the more serious crime report from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and reminding readers of the unusual, sometimes theatrical, ways people choose to participate in urban life. This juxtaposition underscores the variety of incidents that can draw police attention, from playful costumes to serious violations of property and public safety laws, all within the same broader narrative of city vigilantism, public order, and the ongoing effort by authorities to keep streets safe for residents and visitors alike.