School backpacks became a hit among thefts in Vitebsk

August 19, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. School backpacks became a hit for thefts in Vitebsk on August 17 and 18, the Department of Information and Public Relations of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee told a BELTA correspondent.

In the morning of August 17, during operational activities, employees of the operational-search department of the Internal Affairs Directorate detained two unemployed, previously convicted 27-year-old individuals, a man and a woman, red-handed in the Vitebsk Department Store. They stole six backpacks and a pack of paper from the "Stationery" section of the department store. The damage amounted to Br478 thousand. A criminal case has been initiated in connection with this fact under Part 2 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus "Theft".

A little more than a day later, two more women were caught stealing seven school backpacks from a street vending stall of the Vitebsk Department Store. They tried to transport the stolen goods in a baby stroller. During operational activities, employees of the operational-search department of the Internal Affairs Directorate detained the women red-handed. Both had previous convictions. The damage caused by them is estimated at Br 670 thousand. A criminal case has also been initiated against them under Article 205, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.

As the director of OJSC "Vitebsk Department Store" Evgenia Selezneva told a BELTA correspondent, she cannot recall such a number of school backpack thefts at once, although the store's salespeople often record incidents of petty theft. Even the installed security systems do not always help: thieves have learned to remove the chips with which almost all goods in the department store are marked. As a rule, shoplifters have a presentable appearance, act in groups, with a clear division of roles: some distract the salespeople, while others commit the theft.

Evgenia Selezneva expressed her gratitude to the employees of the operational-search department of the Internal Affairs Directorate: thanks to their professional actions, the criminals were detained red-handed. In connection with the increased flow of customers, law enforcement officers of the city have taken all major retail facilities of the regional center under special control.-0-