Auschwitz thieves acted on behalf of third party (Roundup)

Dec 22, 2009, 17:00 GMT

Warsaw - A Polish state prosecutor on Tuesday said it was very likely the men held responsible for stealing the 'Arbeit macht frei' sign at the gates of the former Nazi death camp Auschwitz were working on behalf of a third party from outside Poland.

Krakow state prosecutor Artur Wrona told journalists it was 'highly probable' a 'person living outside Poland and without Polish citizenship' had ordered the theft of the infamous sign, which translates as 'Work brings freedom.'

He added that Poland is preparing an application for judicial assistance in the matter, but would neither confirm nor deny Polish media speculation that the suspect was a Swedish citizen.

According to Wrona, the Auschwitz memorial site from which the sign was stolen was insufficiently protected. The thieves were able to access the grounds 'without problem.'

Investigators had determined that there was an earlier attempt Thursday night to steal the sign, he said. The heist was interrupted when they had to buy a ladder. The second time they tried, around midnight, they were successful.

Wrona said the guards had not noticed anything unusual at the time the sign was stolen. Local police, who were notified of the crime around 6:00 am, had initially thought it had occurred during 3:00 to 5:00 am on Friday morning.

Five men between the ages of 20 and 39 were arrested for the theft.

The state attorneys on Monday inspected the crime scene at the former camp, along with three of the arrested men who confessed to the act. Two alleged accomplices denied participating in the theft.

On Sunday Polish police announced the recovery of the metal sign, saying it had been defaced and cut into three parts.

Contrary to initial assumptions, Polish police have said the offenders were not right-wing radicals.