A 31-year-old man from Lithuania has been jailed for a year for stealing car mirrors from expensive cars. He targeted brands such as Tesla, Mercedes, Porsche, Range Rover and Audi. He was convicted of the theft of seventeen sets of car mirrors in Veghel, Vught, Oirschot and Hilvarenbeek.
The public prosecutor had demanded almost six months in prison against the Lithuanian. The court imposed a much heavier sentence because he really went on a ‘poaching spree’ and when he was caught, he did not take any responsibility.
The Lithuanian was caught on the night of May 8, his accomplice managed to escape. The thief had eleven sets of car mirrors in a bag. He also had tools and gloves with him. He told the officers that he had bought the backpack with car mirrors for one hundred euros from an unknown man.
Unbelievable
After his arrest, the suspect gave all kinds of vague explanations as to why he had those car mirrors with him and what he did in Veghel. For example, he would have traveled from Tilburg to Veghel by bus and the day before by someone from France. He had only forgotten their names.
The Lithuanian would then be picked up in Veghel by a fellow countryman, but by whom and where exactly he did not remember.
Camera images
The police have camera images of several thefts. In each case, two men were seen removing a mirror and technical accessories from the mirror cover within a few seconds. One of them looked like the arrested suspect. The pair targeted cars from expensive brands such as Tesla, Mercedes, Porsche, Range Rover and Audi.
In combination with all the car mirrors he had with him, the court found it proven that he was the one who committed the thefts. According to the judge, the Lithuanian worked professionally and refinedly. In less than a week he went on a raid four times and stole seventeen sets of mirrors.
Mobile banditry
During the investigation, it turned out that the Lithuanian had also been convicted in Austria in 2020 for stealing car parts. According to the court, the man was guilty of mobile banditry. Perpetrators always strike in different places.
The man must also pay 5,500 euros in compensation.
Toyota owners have also been victims of mobile banditry. The brand’s catalytic converters are popular with thieves.