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The Panevėžys Regional Court has announced a ruling in a criminal case regarding an audacious theft committed by breaking into a private residential home in the Utena district. Having examined the appeals of the two convicts, the court stated that the actual prison sentences imposed on the convicts Rita Bieliauskienė and Janina Marcinkevičiūtė by the court of first instance are fair and justified. In the assessment of the judicial panel, the personalities of the convicts pose a real danger to society, and their behavior shows no desire to reform.

The crime was committed on April 7, 2023, acting as a pre-arranged group of accomplices. The convicts took advantage of the elderly homeowner's gullibility – they diverted the woman's attention by talking to her and offering to sell clothes, while secretly breaking into the private house.

During the theft, 3,000 euros were misappropriated. According to the victims' testimony, they had saved this money for firewood and house repairs.

Although the convict R. Bieliauskienė tried to take all the blame upon herself in court, the court rejected this version as a defense tactic. It was proven that the women acted in agreement – they not only imitated trade but also wore gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints in someone else's home.

The alertness of the seniors' son helped solve the crime quickly – after a previous theft, he had installed video cameras in his parents' home. Seeing strangers on his device, the man immediately rushed to his parents, and after they noticed their savings were missing following the uninvited guests' visit, he called police officers.

When imposing the sentences, the court took into account that both convicts are repeat offenders. R. Bieliauskienė has been convicted 11 times in the past and committed the crime while on parole from a correctional facility. J. Marcinkevičiūtė has been convicted 5 times; she had been granted suspended sentences multiple times, but this did not stop her from committing new crimes.

The court also emphasized that the convicts do not regret their crimes and did not reveal the identity of a third accomplice who was with them, thereby helping her avoid responsibility.

Therefore, according to the court's conviction, "only the actual prison sentences imposed by the court of first instance will help deter the convicts from committing new criminal acts in the future and ensure the implementation of the principle of justice."

Following this decision, R. Bieliauskienė will spend 5 years behind bars (after combining this with a previous sentence), and J. Marcinkevičiūtė will spend 2 years.

The ruling of the Panevėžys Regional Court takes effect on the day of its adoption.

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