Two 19-year-olds in custody. They are responsible for armed robbery with a knife, car theft, and breaking into a construction site.

Auschwitz police officers reported the arrest of two 19-year-olds, suspected of robbery using a knife, extortion of payment in exchange for the return of unlawfully taken property, as well as theft of a van and a sweeper. Both have already been arrested by the court. “The 19-year-olds, temporarily arrested by the court in Oświęcim for three months, face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison,” said on Friday the spokesperson of the Oświęcim police command, ASP. Malgorzata Jurecka. The policewoman recounted that last Sunday around 10 p.m., officers in Kęty received a report of a robbery involving a knife. Two teenagers in Nowa Wieś were attacked by two unknown perpetrators. A 16-year-old and a 17-year-old were approached by the attackers, who demanded their cellphones. After refusing, the perpetrators pulled out a knife. One of the boys handed over his phone. The attackers stated that they would return the device, but he had to pay 200 PLN for it. The boy did not have any money on him. The perpetrators took the phone and ran away,” said Jurecka. Shortly after, the police received a report of a theft from a property in the Kęty commune of a Peugeot van. The owner reported seeing two men nearby. The description matched the suspects in the robbery of the teenagers. Within a few hours, the police identified both perpetrators. They were two 19-year-old residents of the Kęty commune. The search began. The officers determined that they were in Skoczów. The local police were informed, and they quickly found the stolen van. The perpetrators were hiding inside. They were arrested. During a search of the vehicle, items that could be used to commit crimes were found. The Peugeot, worth 60,000 PLN, was returned to its owner,” Malgorzata Jurecka reported. The 19-year-olds were charged with robbery using a dangerous tool, extortion of ransom in exchange for the return of unlawfully taken property, and theft of a van. Additionally, they will also be held accountable for theft because on their way from Kęty to Skoczów, they stole sweepers from a construction site,” the spokesperson said. On Thursday, the court in Oświęcim decided to temporarily arrest the men for 3 months. The police are investigating whether the suspects are connected to other similar acts.