Thieves stole metals worth 4.6 million from Beňov foundry, used fire extinguisher to cover their tracks
Four masked perpetrators broke into the foundry complex in Beňov in the Přerov district in mid-May and stole over 11 tonnes of non-ferrous metals. The damage is nearly 4.6 million crowns.
Theft worth millions at Beňov foundry: perpetrators used fire extinguisher to cover their tracks
Four unknown masked perpetrators broke into an industrial complex in Beňov in the Přerov district between 15 and 17 May and stole non-ferrous metals worth approximately 4.58 million crowns, according to iDNES.cz citing police.
"During the weekend of 15 to 17 May, four unknown masked perpetrators broke into the company's premises in the village of Beňov and used force to gain access to areas where two parked forklifts were located," said police spokesperson Miluše Zajícová.
Keys found on site
The thieves used keys they found on the spot. They first started up both forklifts and with their help loaded five pallets of bronze ingots and approximately 11.5 tonnes of non-ferrous metal alloy stored in crates. They moved everything into a truck parked in the complex — for which they also found keys on site.
They then drove the stolen material away in the truck approximately 30 kilometres from the crime scene, to a road between the villages of Tlumačov and Machová in the Zlín region.
Material unloaded, tracks covered
"There they parked the vehicle, unloaded the material from it and took it away to an unknown location. They sprayed the cab of the car with a fire extinguisher," said spokesperson Zajícová. Police have not yet determined where the stolen metals are currently located.
The preliminary estimated damage is 4.58 million crowns.
Family firm with more than fifteen years of history
According to information from the Czech News Agency (ČTK), the target of the attack was the Beňov foundry — a family business specialising in single-unit and small-batch production of technologically demanding castings. The firm has been operating on the market for more than fifteen years and supplies primarily to the mechanical engineering and energy industries.
Police are investigating the case; the perpetrators' identities have not yet been established.
Source: iDNES.cz