This article is also available in: Русский (Russian) Uzbek
An unusual incident took place in Tashkent: two young men stole two cars in one night. In court, they explained their actions by saying they were “tired of walking” and couldn’t find any transportation to get home at night.
How Did It Happen?
According to the Tashkent Department of Internal Affairs, the incident occurred in December 2023. Two 19-year-old men, Bekzodjon and Bahtiyor, were wandering around Yashnabad District late at night. They claimed in court that they were looking for work. However, when they ran out of money and found no transportation available, they decided to steal a Damas car to get home.
The first vehicle was parked on a lot, and they entered through the open cargo compartment. Using a screwdriver, they removed the plastic panel from the steering wheel, connected the wires, and managed to start the car. However, as they drove through Yangikhayot District, the car broke down and wouldn’t start again.
Frustrated, they decided to look for another car. Soon, they found another Damas parked near residential buildings. They used the same screwdriver to open the car, started it, and continued their trip. However, they were soon stopped by patrol officers.
Arrest and Interrogation
The young men were detained and taken to the Department of Internal Affairs. During interrogation, they claimed that the car thefts were not intended as criminal acts but were a desperate measure. According to them, they were simply tired of walking and wanted to get home.
One of the suspects explained:
“We were looking for work all day and walked around the entire Yashnabad District, but we ran out of money. We were exhausted from walking. It was already around 1 a.m., and there were no vehicles on the streets. To get home, we took a Damas parked nearby. We planned to return it the next day, but the car broke down on the way, so we left it there.”
Court Verdict
The investigation revealed that Bekzodjon had a prior conviction for theft in 2019, while Bahtiyor had no previous criminal record. The investigation also established that the thefts were planned in advance, and the young men intended to use the stolen cars for personal purposes.
Despite their efforts to justify their actions in court as a desperate measure, the Yashnabad District Court ruled that their behavior fell under Article 267 of the Criminal Code (unauthorized use of a motor vehicle). Both men were found guilty and sentenced to seven years in prison.
The article may contain inaccuracies as it is translated by AI. For more details, please refer to the Russian version of the article. If you notice any inaccuracies, you can send corrections via the Telegram bot: Uzvaibik_bot.