Career Criminal Jailed for €35,000 Smartphone Heist in Estonia
A 43-year-old man with a history of convictions abroad has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison in Estonia after committing a series of offenses while on probation, including a major theft of 46 smartphones worth an estimated €35,000.
- —A 43-year-old man, identified as Janar/Jaanar, has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for a series of crimes committed over approximately six months, including theft and assault.
- —The most significant crime involved the theft of 46 smartphones from a Telia store in Kärdla around Christmas 2024, resulting in an estimated loss of 35,000 euros.
- —The man also participated in a break-in at a restaurant in Kärdla in May of the previous year, stealing alcohol, drinks, an accessory, and cash totaling around 280 euros, with an additional 2,500 euros in damages to the door.
- —The court found that the man had a pattern of criminal behavior, having been previously convicted in 2023 for appropriation and robbery in Estonia and also having prior criminal convictions abroad.
- —The sentence includes 3 years, 11 months, and 25 days of real imprisonment, and the man is ordered to compensate for damages and pay court costs, though the verdict is not yet legally binding.
Recap
This sentencing is a judicial response to persistent, escalating recidivism that threatened the security of a small, typically safe community. The case highlights the challenge of managing career criminals who operate across borders and exploit probationary systems, signaling that such a pattern of behavior warrants significant imprisonment beyond punishment for individual offenses.