Searches in Olt and Dolj: six suspects in €350,000 copper theft case across Europe
Eleven searches in Olt and Dolj counties target a group of six people suspected of copper thefts worth €350,000 across several European states. Austria has issued three European arrest warrants.
Copper theft network from Slatina investigated in eight European countries
Eleven house search warrants were executed on Thursday in Slatina municipality, Iancu Jianu commune in Olt county and Malu Mare commune in Dolj county, as part of an investigation into copper thefts estimated at approximately €350,000, reports Jurnalul.ro.
The operation was conducted by police officers from the Criminal Investigation Service of Olt County Police Inspectorate, under the coordination of prosecutors from the Office of the Prosecutor attached to Olt Tribunal, in collaboration with judicial authorities from Austria and with the support of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police.
The investigation was launched on the basis of a European investigation order issued by the Korneuburg Prosecutor's Office in Austria. The six persons under investigation, aged between 21 and 33, are suspected of having stolen copper quantities from the premises of several commercial companies through break-ins during the period February–July 2026. According to investigators, the suspects allegedly used stolen vehicles to commit the offences.
The investigation concerns offences of theft, aggravated theft and the formation of a criminal organisation, in accordance with Austrian legislation.
The criminal activity is not believed to have been limited to Austria and Romania. Investigators have indications that the same persons may have committed copper thefts in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Czechia and Slovakia.
At the request of Austrian prosecutors, Korneuburg Court issued three European arrest warrants for men aged 21, 29 and 33, all from Slatina municipality. Two of them—aged 21 and 29—have been located and are to be presented to the competent judge within Craiova Court of Appeal. The third, aged 33, had not been found at the time of writing this article, and procedures are to be initiated to place him under pursuit.
As a result of the searches, several pieces of material evidence were seized, which will be analysed as the investigation continues.
The operation involved police officers from the criminal investigation, special operations and forensic structures of the inspectorates in Olt and Dolj, structures for weapons, explosives and hazardous substances, as well as gendarmes from both counties.
The authorities note that the persons under investigation benefit from the presumption of innocence and all the rights and procedural guarantees provided by law.
Source: Jurnalul.ro