A Series of Thefts in Public Transportation Uncovered

The investigation by the investigative department of the Yerevan City Investigative Committee for the Central and Norq-Marash administrative districts has concluded regarding a series of incidents involving theft, attempted theft, aiding in theft, and hooliganism.

As a result of investigatory and other procedural actions, it has been established that on October 12, 2018, around 11:10 AM, a 51-year-old resident of the Armavir region, in preliminary agreement with a 44-year-old resident of the same region and another 30-year-old man, committed theft. This took place in a route minibus operating in Yerevan, where, in accordance with their plan, the two aforementioned individuals distracted the attention of a female passenger and obscured the view of other individuals in the minibus, allowing the 51-year-old man to secretly steal a wallet from the woman's handbag, causing significant material damage to the citizen.

Additionally, on January 17, 2020, around 5:30 PM, the 51-year-old and 44-year-old men attempted to steal from a citizen's bag on a public bus. However, one of the passengers noticed and shouted, causing the 51-year-old man to fail in completing the crime. During this time, another passenger in the bus requested them to move aside, and the 51-year-old man displayed open disrespect toward society, ignoring the presence of citizens in the bus, and attacked him, striking the individual's face with his fist.

The bus driver, seeing a vehicle belonging to the Road Police of Armenia, forced the bus to a stop, and with the intervention of police officers, the violence against the citizen was halted.

During the investigation, it was also revealed that the three individuals mentioned had stolen wallets from citizens on public buses separately during 2019-2020, causing varying degrees of material damage.

With sufficient evidence obtained, charges have been filed against the 51-year-old man under Article 177, Part 2, Point 2 of the RA Criminal Code, Article 34-177, Part 1.1 (two episodes), and Article 258, Part 3, Point 1; against the 44-year-old man under Article 38-177, Part 2, Point 2, Article 38-34-177, Part 1.1, Article 258, Part 3, Point 1, and Article 177, Part 1.1; and against the 30-year-old man under Article 38-177, Part 2, Point 2 and Article 34-177, Part 1.1.

The investigation has been completed, and the criminal case, with an indictment, has been sent to court.