The former mayor of Zurich has praised the Polish police force after being reunited with two pedigree dogs that had been stolen from his apartment and held for ransom.
The dogs, which were discovered in the northern Polish city of Szczecin, were reported missing at the end of February after being kidnapped from the Swiss home of Rolf Wegmüller by a 30-year-old Norwegian male that the former mayor had met online in 2024.
But rather than seeking a relationship, the Norwegian—identified only as K.—was actually in cahoots with a Polish male from Szczecin. Together, the two concocted an elaborate plot that saw the Norwegian befriend Wegmüller over the course of several months.
After establishing a bond of trust, the Norwegian was able to covertly smuggle the dogs from Wegmüller’s home and hand them over to the Pole. Shortly after, Wegmüller discovered a blackmail letter inside his apartment before receiving an SMS demanding a ransom of one million Swiss francs (approximately 4.4 million złoty).
When he asked the sender for proof that the dogs were alive, he was told that he would receive a picture of their severed heads. Instead, however, the exchange was followed by a picture of the dogs close to the Polish border.
But rather than seeking a relationship, the Norwegian—identified only as K.—was actually in cahoots with a Polish male from Szczecin. Together, the two concocted an elaborate plot that saw the Norwegian befriend Wegmüller over the course of several months.
After establishing a bond of trust, the Norwegian was able to covertly smuggle the dogs from Wegmüller’s home and hand them over to the Pole. Shortly after, Wegmüller discovered a blackmail letter inside his apartment before receiving an SMS demanding a ransom of one million Swiss francs (approximately 4.4 million złoty).
When he asked the sender for proof that the dogs were alive, he was told that he would receive a picture of their severed heads. Instead, however, the exchange was followed by a picture of the dogs close to the Polish border.
Only after all this had unfolded did the Norwegian leave Wegmüller’s home, and only then did the ex-mayor realize he had fallen victim to a complex con. While the Norwegian was arrested before he could exit Switzerland, his Polish accomplice was only apprehended after Szczecin police were tipped off that he was hiding locally.
Having already altered and ultimately lowered his demands to 250,000 Swiss francs, the Pole was traced to a home in Szczecin. After swooping to arrest the suspect, officers found the two pets—a pair of Bolognese dogs named Quentin and Quamar—hidden inside two black transport bags.
“A 38-year-old resident of Szczecin has been charged with two offenses,” said a police spokesperson. “The prosecutor has imposed police supervision on him and banned him from leaving the country and from contacting the injured party as well as his accomplice.”
If found guilty, the Pole could now face a 10-year prison sentence.
The dogs, which spent two days recovering from their ordeal at Szczecin's Society for the Protection of Animals, were reunited with Wegmüller in an emotional handover.
Speaking to reporters, Wegmüller was quick to praise the actions of the Polish police force: “I am the happiest guy in the world,” he said. “My boys were kidnapped more than 10 days ago and I thought I would never see them again. The police in Szczecin did the best job in the world—they are heroes.”
Having already altered and ultimately lowered his demands to 250,000 Swiss francs, the Pole was traced to a home in Szczecin. After swooping to arrest the suspect, officers found the two pets—a pair of Bolognese dogs named Quentin and Quamar—hidden inside two black transport bags.
“A 38-year-old resident of Szczecin has been charged with two offenses,” said a police spokesperson. “The prosecutor has imposed police supervision on him and banned him from leaving the country and from contacting the injured party as well as his accomplice.”
If found guilty, the Pole could now face a 10-year prison sentence.
The dogs, which spent two days recovering from their ordeal at Szczecin's Society for the Protection of Animals, were reunited with Wegmüller in an emotional handover.
Speaking to reporters, Wegmüller was quick to praise the actions of the Polish police force: “I am the happiest guy in the world,” he said. “My boys were kidnapped more than 10 days ago and I thought I would never see them again. The police in Szczecin did the best job in the world—they are heroes.”
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