Mike on Crime

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WARSAW, Poland — Polish police say they have paid rewards to two people who were instrumental in helping track down suspects in the theft of the infamous sign from the former Auschwitz death camp.

Krakow police spokesman Dariusz Nowak said Thursday that information received separately from the two people helped in finding the suspects quickly.

The “Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Makes You Free)” sign was stolen in December. Polish police found it in the woods three days later cut up into three pieces and charged five Polish men with its theft.

Poland is also seeking extradition of a Swedish man suspected of instigating the heist.

Nowak says a total of C21,500 ($30,000) was paid to the two tipsters. He would not give their names, citing security concerns, nor specify what information they provided.