Police in Warsaw’s Żoliborz district have arrested two men suspected of stealing paintings and fraudulently accessing a victim’s bank account.
Victim Reports Theft of Paintings and Card
A Żoliborz resident reported the theft of valuable paintings belonging to his great-grandfather. The victim had recently met two men and invited them to his apartment, where they consumed alcohol.
During the gathering, one of the men claimed to work in an art gallery and expressed keen interest in the artwork displayed in the apartment. The victim fell asleep, and upon waking, discovered both men and two paintings – “Sosny” (Pines) and “Głowy starej kobiety” (Head of an Old Woman) – were missing.
Bank Account Compromised
The following day, the victim noticed his payment card was also missing. A review of his bank account revealed over 30 unauthorized transactions, including 20 ATM withdrawals totaling 12,450 złoty and 13 purchases exceeding 600 złoty.
The stolen paintings were valued at 40,000 złoty.
Suspects Apprehended and Charged
Following investigative work and analysis of gathered information, Żoliborz police located and arrested both men, aged 46 and 42. They have been charged with theft of the paintings, theft of the payment card, and unlawful access to a bank account.
The suspects face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Investigation Ongoing
The case is being supervised by the Warsaw-Żoliborz District Prosecutor’s Office.