ESCAPED

Thirty Egyptian asylum seekers escaped from a refugee facility in Velké Pfiílepy, central Bohemia, Sept. 10. Police caught three of them, while 27 are still on the run. The escape follows one by 40 Egyptian refugees who fled from the same facility in late August. Police say the center lacks sufficient security.

MURDER

A court in Denver, Colorado, sentenced Martin Novotn˘, a Czech au pair, to life in prison without possibility of parole Sept. 7 for first-degree murder. Novotn˘, 23, stabbed his girlfriend 74 times with a knife in December. He confessed to the crime, expressing regret.

ATM

Thieves in south Bohemia stole an ATM cash dispenser, containing more than 3 million Kč ($136,487), and promptly lost it as they made their getaway Sept. 7. The ATM fell from their trailer onto a passing police car. The thieves managed to escape in the confusion.

CHURCH

St. Vitus Cathedral, handed over to the Roman Catholic Church Sept. 6 after decades of being administered by the state, has started charging a 100 Kč entrance fee. Up until now, general admission to the cathedral was free, while entrance to special sections was covered under a single fee charged for entering the castle compound.

BEER

The regional court in Plzeň, west Bohemia, sentenced a truck driver to six years in jail Sept. 11 for stealing hundreds of barrels of beer, worth 1 million Kč from the Pilsner Brewery five years ago. Pavel Mokr˘, the driver, is also being fined for the unpaid lease of the truck.

PARACHUTES

Czech-designed parachutes made for jumping out of skyscrapers in emergency situations have not been selling well since going on the market after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States, according to the Právo. At $1,895 (41,652 Kč) each, the device is too costly.