In Chelyabinsk, a Volkswagen Tiguan was stolen by thieves who then disassembled the vehicle before the police could arrive. The regional Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that the incident was under investigation as a serious property crime and as part of ongoing efforts to curb vehicle theft in the area.
According to a local resident who reported the crime, the car had not been driven for some time and was left in the courtyard parking of the residence on Energetikov Street. The vehicle’s owner, who was reportedly kidnapped, had not used the Tiguan recently, which drew the thieves’ attention to a seemingly dormant automobile and prompted the unlawful takeover.
Witnesses described how the suspects noticed a snow-covered car in the courtyard, assumed it had been idle for an extended period, and decided to seize it. This sequence led to a rapid pattern of unlawful access, transportation, and preparation for resale, illustrating the opportunistic nature of some auto theft cases observed in the region.
The investigation revealed that after unlawfully entering the vehicle, the suspects would move it to a nearby gardening co-op territory and subsequently dismantle it to facilitate parts sales. During the subsequent searches at a garden property connected to one of the detainees and at a construction site, investigators recovered components and various body parts belonging to the stolen Tiguan, underscoring the breadth of the operation and the authorities’ demand for a thorough examination of all related sites.
Regarding two men aged 40 and 42, a criminal case has been opened under paragraphs a and b of Part 4 of Article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which addresses theft. One of the suspects, who has prior convictions for property crimes and drug possession, was placed in temporary detention, while the other was released on bail as the case developed and further evidence was collected.
Earlier reporting noted similar incidents elsewhere, such as in Blagoveshchensk, where a Toyota vehicle fell into a water-filled ditch due to a burst pipe, highlighting broader concerns about vehicle security and the need for increased vigilance among drivers and communities alike. [police report attribution]