A Russian man has learnt the hard way that faking a crime is far worse than enduring a few hours at the shopping centre.
Police in Krasnoyarsk revealed the bizarre case of a local man who allegedly damaged his own Toyota Corolla and staged a carjacking in April — all to avoid going shopping with his wife.
The elaborate ruse began when the man’s wife called emergency services to report their car stolen from a parking lot near their home. Hours later, she rang back to say they’d found the vehicle abandoned on Otdykha Island.
When officers inspected the car, they found signs of forced entry and a damaged ignition switch. But during questioning, the husband’s story began to unravel. Details changed, timelines didn’t add up, and investigators eventually concluded he’d orchestrated the whole thing.
The man, who had no prior criminal record, now faces up to two years in prison under Russia’s laws against knowingly filing false police reports. He’s currently under a travel ban while awaiting trial.
Perhaps an afternoon browsing homewares would have been the easier option after all.
