Passenger steals Kia Ceed from taxi driver

Police in Novosibirsk intercepted a car stolen from a taxi driver, the regional press service of the Interior Ministry reported.

On Monday, 2 February, police received a statement from a 34-year-old owner of a Kia Ceed, who reported the theft of his car from a house on Chelyuskintsev Street in the Zheleznodorozhny district.

«Police officers immediately launched an «Intercept» operation and issued an alert to all patrol units. A Traffic Police Regiment crew on patrol spotted the stolen vehicle near a house on Gogol Street,» the press service reported.

A 31-year-old man was behind the wheel. He was detained and taken to a police station. Officers determined that the detainee had called a taxi and, during the ride, the driver stopped and briefly got out. The thief took advantage of the moment, got behind the wheel and drove off.

A criminal case was opened under Part 1 of Article 166 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (unlawful taking of a car or other vehicle without intent to steal). The man was placed under a written undertaking not to leave the area. The investigation is ongoing, and the Kia Ceed was returned to its owner.

In late January, police in Novosibirsk detained a 22-year-old man suspected of stealing a car. The BYD MG 5 was taken from a parking lot near a house.