Man Sentenced To 16 Months For Posing as Mannequin To Steal From Mall

A 22-year-old man named Wojciech G. has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for his unusual method of robbing stores by posing as a mannequin.

Wojciech’s crimes occurred at the Westfield Arkadia Mall in Warsaw, Poland, the largest shopping center in Central Europe, which features around 230 shops and 25 restaurants.

Wojciech used a clever and unconventional approach. He would stand still in shop windows, holding a handbag to blend in with the mannequins. This trick helped him avoid detection by CCTV cameras. After the mall closed and the staff had left, he would begin his theft spree, moving from store to store to steal jewelry, cash, clothes, and even food.

In one instance, security footage showed him jumping over a counter in a sandwich shop to grab food and drinks, hiding as a guard walked by. On another occasion, he was spotted hiding under a tarpaulin in a bar after stealing alcohol and tips from waiters.

His stealing caused significant damage, estimated at around PLN 24,000 (£4,728). Though Wojciech was arrested temporarily for three months, he resumed his criminal activities upon his release. His crime spree came to an end when he was caught by mall security.

At his sentencing hearing at Warsaw District Court, Wojciech confessed to burglary and theft. The court has ruled that his 16-month sentence is final and cannot be appealed.

Inspector Robert Szumiata, who worked on the case, described Wojciech as an “unusual thief” who targeted the Westfield Arkadia and Złote Tarasy malls. While the law allows for up to 10 years in prison for such offenses, Wojciech received a 16-month sentence due to his admission of guilt.

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