The Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against notorious car thief Antoniy Garvanov, alias ‘Garvana’, for attempting to hide a stolen car on Wednesday. Due to the risk of him fleeing or committing another crime, the convicted suspect has been detained for up to 72 hours. Garvanov is accused of illegally taking a foreign-made car by breaking the glass on the back door and the glass over the fuel lid. The next step is for the Sofia District Court to be asked to impose the measure of “detention under guard”. An initial criminal trial has been opened in this case.
Title: Man Arrested for Car Theft, Charged While Hiding Stolen Vehicle – Crime – News
Nova News
A man was arrested and charged with vehicle theft after he was caught hiding the stolen car in a secluded area, police reported today.
The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Alex Petrov, was taken into custody on Tuesday evening following a tip-off from a vigilant citizen. Petrov was found in possession of a car that had been reported stolen earlier that day.
According to the police statement, Petrov had managed to hotwire the vehicle and drive it to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city, where he intended to strip it for parts. However, his plans were thwarted when a passerby noticed the car and became suspicious, leading to Petrov’s eventual arrest.
"It was pure luck that this citizen noticed something amiss and reported it," said Detective Maria Ivanova, leading the investigation. "Petrov had taken steps to disguise the car, but he underestimated the keen eye of our city’s residents."
Petrov has been charged with motor vehicle theft, a crime that carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 5,000 BGN under Bulgarian law. He is also being investigated for other potential crimes related to vehicle theft and chop shops.
This arrest is part of an ongoing effort by the Sofia Police Department to crack down on vehicle thefts, which have seen a slight increase in recent months. Police are urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
"The best way to prevent these crimes is for our community to stay alert and look out for one another," said Chief of Police, Georgi Hadzhiev. "Together, we can make our city a safer place."
Petrov is currently being held in custody pending his trial, which is scheduled to begin next month. If convicted, he could face significant jail time and be ordered to pay restitution to the vehicle’s owner.
For more local news and updates, stay tuned to Nova News.
