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Alert resident foils €150,000 street sweeper heist near Warsaw

One phone call changed everything. A sharp-eyed resident's suspicion saved a town's prized machine—and put six thieves behind bars.

, and ASMedia

2026 March 4 . 3:53 AM

1 min read

In front of the picture, we see a white car on which "Police" is written. Behind that, there are... — In front of the picture, we see a white car on which "Police" is written. Behind that, there are many cars moving on the road. On either side of the road, we see grass and trees. This picture is clicked outside the city.

Police Nab Street Sweeper Thieves - Alert resident foils €150,000 street sweeper heist near Warsaw

A quick-thinking resident in Obertshausen helped police recover a stolen street sweeper worth €150,000. The machine was about to be smuggled to Warsaw when officers intervened in the early hours of Friday. Six suspects, aged between 21 and 61, were taken into custody at the scene.

The incident began when a local man spotted the sweeper being loaded onto a transporter. Suspecting foul play, he immediately called the police. Multiple patrol units arrived within minutes, just as the thieves were preparing to leave.

The sweeper, owned by a municipal cleaning service, had already been stolen by the time officers reached the location. Authorities acted swiftly, detaining six individuals on suspicion of theft. The machine was secured and later returned to its rightful owner.

Investigations revealed the stolen vehicle was destined for Warsaw, Poland. The suspects remain in provisional custody while inquiries continue.

The street sweeper, valued at €150,000, is now back in the hands of its owner. Police credited the alert resident for preventing the theft from succeeding. Authorities are still examining how the suspects planned to transport the machine across borders.