Kosovar with friends steal over 250 bicycles and e-bikes in Switzerland, then sell them to Kosovo

They are blamed for stealing over 250 high-quality bicycles and e-bikes in the Olten region during 2020. The amount of crime, over 600,000 francs.

Starting in spring 2020 a large number of bicycles and e-bikes have been stolen in the Olten area.

The public prosecutor's office in the Solothurn canton has now pressed charges of multiple and banditic theft against six people, broadcasts albinfo.ch. They are accused of sending bicycles to Kosovo for sale.

The investigation had led to the arrest of three people in July 2020. During the search through the house, bicycles, e-bikes and accessors were seized. Under the investigation procedure has been extended to four other suspected authors, following further arrests and house raids, the public prosecutor writes in a communique.

Criminal investigations have already ended, the oltnertagblat writes. Charges have been brought against six people, and another person has been dismissed. The six accused are now men from 32 to 45 and come from Syria, Portugal, Kosovo, Serbia and Switzerland. Public prosecution accuses them of commercial theft and gang-related and other crimes.

Concretically, the accused are blamed for stealing more than 250 high-quality bicycles and e-bills in the Olten region between March 2020 and September 2020, the albinfo.ch broadcasts. The amount of crime is over 600,000 francs. Then they have organised transportation to Kosovo to sell bicycles. The prosecutor believes people have acted professionally. That conclusion is because there were clear divisions of roles and work.

Some of the accused have admitted, but some have denied the crimes, the statement says. Five of the accused have been placed in custody for several months during criminal investigations. A suspect is currently on early execution of the measures.

The date of the trial hearing at the Olten-Gösgen County Court has not yet been set.