Teenager detained over two car thefts in Sterlitamak

Traffic police detained a 17-year-old Sterlitamak resident suspected of taking two cars in one night. Russia’s Interior Ministry said he crashed the first into a pole before officers stopped the second on the Ufa–Orenburg highway.

According to police, the teenager was walking home from a friend’s house when he spotted an open garage and a Nissan Almera with its key in the ignition. He rolled the car outside and drove towards the village of Yasherganovo, but lost control and hit a pole.

He allegedly abandoned the damaged Nissan, returned and drove away in a Renault Duster. Officers spotted him at the highway’s 47-kilometre mark. Both cars were returned to their owner.

The ministry reported a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 166 of Russia’s Criminal Code, which covers taking a vehicle without authorisation. That provision carries a maximum prison sentence of five years.