A 22-year-old man named Wojciech G. has been sentenced to 16 months in jail for posing as a shop mannequin to rob stores in Warsaw, Poland.
The incident took place at the Westfield Arkadia Mall, Central Europe's largest shopping center, which houses around 230 shops and 25 restaurants.
Wojciech's method was both cunning and unusual. He would stand motionless in shop windows, holding a handbag, to blend in with the mannequins. This allowed him to avoid detection by CCTV cameras. Once the mall closed and staff had left, he would spring into action, moving from store to store to steal jewelry, cash, clothes, and even food.
On one occasion, he was caught on security footage hopping over a sandwich shop counter to steal food and drink before ducking down as a guard walked past. Another time, he was seen hiding under a tarpaulin over a bar where he had stolen booze and waiters' tips.
The spree caused massive damage, estimated at around PLN 24,000 (£4,728). Wojciech was temporarily arrested for three months but returned to his criminal activities upon release. His actions were finally halted when he was apprehended by mall security officers.
During his sentencing hearing at Warsaw District Court, Wojciech admitted to charges of burglary and theft. The court ruled that the sentence is final and cannot be appealed.
Inspector Robert Szumiata, who was involved in the case, described Wojciech as an "unusual thief" operating in the Westfield Arkadia and Złote Tarasy malls. The penal code allows for sentences as long as 10 years for such crimes, but Wojciech received a 16-month sentence after admitting to his actions.
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