A gang of thieves, who were “working” in city buses were detained in Uzhgorod

Among the eight criminals, there were residents of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk regions and the city of Khust, the Mukachevo.net reported.

Law enforcers reported that three men and five women are suspected of about 20 thefts of purses and phones in city buses of the regional center of Transcarpathia.

The suspects arrived to Uzhgorod four days ago, rented an apartment in the city and started their illegal activities. The persons aged 17 to 45 organized an effective scheme: in the morning, in crowded public transport, the women would steal purses and phones from passengers’ pockets, then get off a bus, get in a car and leave the scene.

The police have already proven the involvement of the group in two dozens of such thefts. The stolen property was seized from the suspects.

Criminal proceedings into all incidents have been initiated under Part 2 of Art. 185 of the CCU, ie theft committed repeatedly or by prior conspiracy by a group of persons. This offense is punishable by restriction of liberty for up to five years or imprisonment for the same period.

The police also found out that all members of the group had already been prosecuted.

At the moment, all suspects are in Uzhgorod police department. The police are checking them for involvement in other similar crimes. The choice of a pretrial restraint against the suspects is being decided.