A novel heist method came to light on Thursday when Polish police reported the arrest of a 22-year-old man who ingeniously posed as a store mannequin to commit theft in a Warsaw shopping centre.
The suspect reportedly entered a clothing store, dressed in an outfit from the store’s collection, and then assumed a static position in the store window. His intention was to evade detection from security personnel and surveillance cameras. Robert Szumiata, Warsaw police spokesman, described the ruse, saying the thief “stood still in the window like a mannequin in order to fool security guards and surveillance cameras.”
However, the man’s unconventional tactics did not go unnoticed for long. After the shopping centre closed its doors for the day, he ventured out from his hiding spot to steal jewellery from a nearby stand. Authorities apprehended him shortly after.
In his remarks to AFP, Szumiata expressed his astonishment, stating, “We’d never seen anything like it.” The individual is now facing charges of theft and burglary. If convicted, he could spend up to 10 years behind bars.