In a story that feels ripped straight from a sitcom, police in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk say a local man went so far as to stage the theft of his own car — all to avoid a shopping trip with his wife.
Authorities say the incident actually happened back in April, but it didn’t come to light until regional police briefed the media this fall. According to officials, the man’s wife first called emergency services to report that their Toyota Corolla had vanished from the parking lot near their home. Not long after, she phoned again to say the couple had found the car abandoned on Otdykha Island.
When officers arrived, they found what looked like a classic carjacking scene — signs of forced entry, a damaged ignition, the whole deal. But during questioning, investigators say the husband’s story started unraveling fast. The more he talked, the less sense it made, and the evidence eventually pointed in one direction: he had faked the entire heist to escape an afternoon of shopping.
Police say the man, who reportedly had no criminal history, now faces real consequences. He’s been charged under Article 306 of Russia’s criminal code for filing a knowingly false report — an offense that carries a potential two-year prison sentence. For now, he’s under a travel ban while the investigation continues.
All that… just to dodge a trip to the mall.
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