Bucharest police search ten homes over alleged fuel theft from STB buses

Searches across the capital and two counties

The Public Transport Brigade of Bucharest Police carried out ten home searches on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, in Bucharest and in Ilfov and Giurgiu counties. Gendarmes from the Bucharest gendarmerie supported the operation, and ten summons warrants were executed alongside the search warrants so that the suspects could be taken in for questioning. Police said all ten people named in the file were located and heard. The case concerns theft and complicity to theft, and it remains under the supervision of the prosecutors attached to the Sector 5 Court.

The police statement explains how the case began:

“The investigation was launched on 27 August 2026, when police were notified about the theft of considerable quantities of fuel from a transport company in the capital.”

How the fuel was allegedly taken

According to the police statement, the alleged thefts took place between 23 June and 30 September 2026, mostly at night and during working hours, at a work point in Sector 5. Digi24 and Mediafax both place the thefts at the Ferentari bus depot, based on their own information. Adevărul, citing investigation information, reports that drivers used the tilting function built into the buses for disabled passengers to drain the tanks on the side where the doors are. Investigators put the amount taken during the monitored period at about 1.5 tonnes of fuel.

On 4 August 2026, one driver was allegedly helped by two security guards who were on duty at the time, according to the police statement. Mediafax reports that the two guards worked the night shift for a security firm.

Who is under investigation

Police count ten suspects, but the outlets disagree on their jobs. Digi24 and Mediafax report eight drivers and two security guards among them, while G4Media and Ziare.com describe all ten as STB bus drivers. Adevărul describes ten employees, most of them drivers, and Știrile ProTV refers to several employees acting with the complicity of two guards. The sources do not name the suspects, and this article does not either. Police said legal measures will be ordered against them once the case is resolved.

Company background

STB, the Bucharest public transport operator, is owned by Bucharest City Hall, according to G4Media and Ziare.com. Ziare.com describes the company as the provider of surface public transport in the capital. The company entered insolvency in September 2026 with debts of more than 1.5 billion lei, mostly owed to the state budget and suppliers, according to Ziare.com. G4Media links the insolvency to constant financial losses over the last few years.

Company response and possible consequences

STB representatives said the company will take the measures required depending on the conclusions of the investigation, according to Adevărul. If the suspicions are confirmed, the employees involved face the termination of their contracts, and the company will try to recover the losses. Police said the investigation continues under the supervision of the prosecutors' office attached to the Sector 5 Court. No charges or court decisions are reported in the sources so far.