Crimean thief steals veterans’ medals to fund drug addiction

Moscow, May 5 – Russian Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk told reporters that police officers in Crimea caught a thief who stole 13 medals belonging to a veteran of the Great Patriotic War from an apartment, and spent the money he spent from selling part of the antiquities on drugs.

According to her, a local resident turned to the police of the Simferopol region with a statement about the disappearance of the orders and medals of his veteran father from his house. Among them are the orders of the Patriotic War, the Red Star, the medals “For Military Merit” and “The Capture of Berlin”.

“The investigation established that the attacker entered the building by breaking down the front door. Thirteen family belongings were stolen, as well as video equipment and the owner’s personal belongings. As a result of operational search activities, the police located and detained the suspect. Medals were stolen. Police found five more awards in an antique shop “.

The Ministry of Interior also released a video with the accused being interrogated. When a policeman asked him if he spent the money from selling the medals on drugs, the man answered in the affirmative.

Volk added that the confiscated orders and medals would be returned to the veteran’s family.

A criminal case was initiated on theft (Part 3 of Article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).