A Russian man stole his friend’s mobile phone while the latter was asleep, used it to steal money and gamble online, and then destroyed it, say police.
In a Telegram post on its official channel, the Omsk Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said the victim was 58 years old and worked at an automotive garage in Luzino, a village in the Omsk Oblast.
The victim told police he and two other men would often meet at the garage to drink alcohol together.
The trio had arranged a drinking session on an unnamed date in February. But when the victim’s friends arrived, he later told police, they found him asleep.
One of the duo, identified as a 50-year-old male, reportedly stole the garage worker’s phone.
Russian Man Goes on Gambling Spree
Police say they arrested the suspect shortly after. After questioning, the suspect reportedly admitted to stealing the phone.
Officers said the suspect had observed and memorized his friend’s pattern unlock code. After leaving the scene, the suspect allegedly used this code to access the phone.
He then reportedly accessed the victim’s sports betting e-wallet and emptied it, sending all the funds to his own bank account.
Police said the man then used this money to place several unsuccessful bets on an online casino platform.
After losing all the money he had stolen, the suspect reportedly smashed the phone and then threw it into a public trash bin.
Police confirmed the suspect admitted to stealing a total of 100,000 rubles, worth over $1,200, from the wallet.
“We have charged the suspect with theft and remanded him in custody,” an Omsk police official said.
The suspect has previous convictions for carjacking, robbery, and theft, detectives confirmed.
Ministry’s Legalization Plan
Online casinos are illegal in Russia, but the Ministry of Finance says it is largely powerless to stop their spread.
The ministry has proposed scrapping the ban and introducing a 30% annual tax rate for permit-holding operators.
The plan has proven highly controversial, but gambling advocates say the proposal has already advanced quickly.
Industry officials say lawmakers could vote on the ministry’s plan as early as next month.
Earlier this month, police announced the arrest of a social media self-improvement guru on gambling charges.
Police in the city of Perm said the man operated an illegal casino in a basement unit of a downtown commercial district. At a court hearing held on March 26, the suspect “fully admitted” his guilt and asked a judge to release him on bail.
The court rejected the request after the prosecution service told the court the suspect was a flight risk who showed signs of gambling addiction.
