A Lithuanian national with a history of theft across Europe has been sentenced to six months in prison and banned from entering Monaco for five years, following two separate bicycle-related offences in the Principality. The case, originally reported by Monaco-Matin, has raised concerns about a possible resurgence of periodic bike thefts in the area.
The 32-year-old man, currently living in Nice, was apprehended twice in a ten-day span. On April 28, he was captured on video surveillance stealing a €3,000 racing bicycle. He discarded the lock in a nearby bin and attempted to evade police by hiding in the lobby of a building. He was swiftly located and found to be in possession of 1.88 grams of cannabis resin.
On 8 May, he was stopped again at Monaco’s train station, this time with another bicycle valued at €1,400. Authorities suspected the item was stolen. The defendant claimed he had purchased it for €150, a claim that failed to convince the court.
During the hearing, the court reviewed his criminal record, which includes a dozen prior thefts across Germany, Switzerland, and Denmark. In 2021, he changed his surname to match that of his maternal grandfather, but the name change did little to obscure his documented history.
Despite the defence’s attempt to downplay the severity of the offences and contest the drug possession charge—arguing the cannabis was found nearby but not on his person—the court sided with the prosecution. It ordered the confiscation of all seized items and confirmed the prison sentence and entry ban.
The defendant, who claimed to be working informally on construction sites and seeking a stable job, was returned to the remand centre following the verdict.
