Subotica painter accused of stealing jewelry worth millions

Officers of the Ministry of the Interior in Subotica arrested a man, identified as B. V. (43), on June 27 on suspicion of aggravated theft. He is accused of abusing access he had been given to another person’s home. The access came from painting work he was hired to do in the house of an elderly Subotica resident.

According to the investigation, the victim is a 72-year-old woman. She had hired a worker to repaint her living space. During that job, the worker is suspected of getting hold of her jewelry and taking it away. The estimated value of the stolen valuables is 11,500,000 dinars.

The suspect was ordered held for up to 48 hours. He will be brought before the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Subotica together with a criminal complaint for aggravated theft. Guilt has not been established by a final court ruling, and the prosecution will decide on the next steps.

How the jewelry ended up in the worker’s hands

The case stands out because of where the offense was allegedly committed. The theft is believed to have happened inside a private home, at the moment the owner had given the worker access to her rooms. Painting work means the contractor spends hours inside the house, often alone, while furniture is moved and packed away.

That kind of arrangement creates an opening for a breach of trust. Older people usually cannot keep watch over every room while work is underway. Jewelry in Serbia is still often kept at home, in drawers or wardrobes, rather than in safes or banks. That is precisely why the loss in this case is measured in millions.

Police found part of the jewelry in the suspect’s possession. Those valuables will be returned to the owner, a rare outcome in cases of this type. It remains to be confirmed whether all the missing jewelry was recovered or some has already been sold off.

What can people do before letting a tradesman into the house?

This case is not an isolated example. Thefts during repair work are hard to prevent because the victim personally lets the contractor into the space. Checking a worker’s identity and signing a clear contract are basic precautions. Valuables are best put away or handed over for safekeeping before the work starts.

For older residents, it helps to have another household member or acquaintance present while work is done in the house. Jewelry and documents should not be kept in visible or easily reached places. Any suspicious disappearance should be reported to police right away, because a quick response improves the chances of recovery.

In this case, it was a quick police response that led to part of the stolen jewelry being found. The prosecution will now weigh the evidence and decide on further steps. Until a final ruling, the suspect is presumed innocent.

Would you move your valuables out of the house before letting tradesmen in for a longer job?