GAZ M-21L Volga Police from Beware of the Car

The GAZ M-21L Volga police car in Beware of the Car belonged to investigator Maxim Podberyozovikov, played by Oleg Yefremov. Like Yuri Detochkin, played by Innokenty Smoktunovsky, he performs in an amateur theatre.

Podberyozovikov is assigned to investigate the car thefts Detochkin commits in his spare time.

“There was no Belomor, so he bought Drug cigarettes…” is one of the clues that exposes Detochkin. Before arresting this “twentieth-century Robin Hood”, the investigator takes him to a beer hall and, while tipsy, learns the noble motives behind the thefts. He ultimately breaches his duty and lets him go, obtaining a promise never to steal again, even from bribe-takers.