A 38-year-old resident of Tolyatti stole a stand-up paddleboard from a river resort and paddled 30 kilometers across the Volga River to make it to work on time, Russian police said.
The main department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Samara Oblast told news outlet Lenta.ru that the owner of a tourist base in the village of Shiryaevo reported the theft after discovering the sports equipment was missing from the grounds.
Investigators identified the suspect using security camera footage from the property. Police noted that the 38-year-old man was a familiar figure in the village of Shiryaevo who was frequently seen in the area by locals.
Steep fence climb and river crossing
According to law enforcement officers, the commuter was running late for work and decided to reach the opposite bank of the river on a paddleboard. After searching for the owner of the sports equipment and failing to find anyone on site, he climbed over the resort fence and took the board.
The suspect then launched the board into the water and paddled approximately 30 kilometers along the Volga River to complete his journey. Upon reaching the other side, he left the stolen board at the home of a female acquaintance.
The Volga River is the longest river in Europe, spanning over 3,500 kilometers through western Russia before discharging into the Caspian Sea. Navigating its wide channels on an unpowered stand-up paddleboard requires sustained physical effort across broad stretches of open water.
Criminal charges and financial compensation
Police confirmed that a criminal case for theft has been formally opened against the Tolyatti resident. Officers added that the man has already fully reimbursed the resort owner for the financial damage caused by the incident.
Shiryaevo is a rural village in Samara Oblast located on the right bank of the Volga River near the Zhiguli Mountains. Tolyatti, situated nearby along the river basin, is the second largest city in the region and a major industrial center. The Ministry of Internal Affairs oversees municipal police operations and criminal investigations across the Russian Federation.
