Break-in in Prostějov and arson: two men charged over damage exceeding 900,000 Kč
Two men broke into a company in Prostějov, stole tools and vehicles, and subsequently set them on fire. The total damage exceeded 900,000 Kč.
Stolen cars set ablaze in forest to cover tracks
The Czech Republic Police announced the charging of two men, aged 38 and 33, in connection with property offences committed in April this year. The total damage exceeds 900,000 Kč.
According to policie.gov.cz, both men entered a company building on Lidická Street in Prostějov together in early April. They accessed the common areas through an unlocked entrance door, then forcibly overcame a locked door leading to the company's premises and searched the warehouse, garage and administrative sections of the building.
They stole work tools, electrical and construction materials, and a notebook with a total value of 259,800 Kč. Some of the tools were already in vehicles parked inside the building, in which the owners had left the keys. The men loaded additional items they found into the cars and drove away. In doing so, they damaged two door locks and garage doors — damage to these fixtures exceeded 82,000 Kč.
The pair then moved to Bruntál district, where they transferred the stolen items into a vehicle belonging to an acquaintance who had come to collect them. They subsequently drove to the cadastral territory of Valšov, where they deliberately set fire to both stolen vehicles — a Škoda Fabia and a Fiat Talento — to cover their tracks. The fire completely destroyed both vehicles worth 565,000 Kč, and the fire also spread to the surrounding forest, resulting in additional damage exceeding 5,000 Kč. The same acquaintance drove them from Valšov to Olomouc. The men sold some of the stolen items and divided the money between them.
Following receipt of a report, police officers secured evidence materials on the basis of which they identified both suspects and, with prior consent from the state prosecutor, detained them. On the same day, the man who had driven them to Olomouc was also detained; he was released following procedural actions. The remaining two men were prosecuted the following day after their detention, with proceedings being conducted whilst they remain at liberty.
Both face charges of theft and damage to another's property committed in joint perpetration. The older of the men is also being prosecuted for obstructing the performance of an official decision, as he drove a motor vehicle at the time of the offence despite the court imposing a driving ban on him.
The total damage caused by the theft of items and vehicles reaches 824,800 Kč, whilst damage to other property affected amounts to 87,944 Kč.
Source: Google News CZ — Crime (cs)