Kujawsko-Pomorskie

10th February 2012

Police from Swiecie were less than amused by a prank call received last Saturday claiming that a man was drifting down the Wisla on pack ice. The hoax led to a massive search operation estimated to have cost in the region of PLN 100,000 before it was called off as officers realised they were wasting their time.

“After almost twenty hours of intensive investigations we managed to identify and detain two residents of Kwidzyn who are most likely the authors of this ‘joke’. They have been taken to police headquarters in Swiecie where they will be charged,” Monika Chlebicz, press officer for Kujawsko-Pomorskie police told reporters.

It was late onSaturday evening when an anonymous caller phoned, claiming his friend had slipped down the bank into the Wisla. The location given is often used by residents in winter as a short cut to Nebrowo and so seemed a plausible story to police.

Immediately, dozens of police and fire officers set off on a rescue mission, a helicopter was even called in from Warsaw. The search continued all night into Sunday, with special ice sledges, flat-bottomed boats and thermal-imaging cameras all being used. “The helicopter alone costs PLN 5,000 per hour to operate. The entire operation definitely cost in excess of PLN 100,000,” commented Pawel Fratczak for the Fire Service.

While searching for the missing man, police also worked to locate the mystery caller. Despite the call being made using a pay-as-you-go mobile phonecard, police identified two suspects on Sunday. If found guilty, apart from any punishment for the false alarm, the miscreants may be presented with a bill for the rescue operation.