Date Published: 09/03/2023
ARCHIVED - Bogus cops with fake home search warrant dupe expat grandmother and rob her of thousands
One of the suspects believed to be behind the robbery in Abarán has been arrested and police are searching for a second
Two burglars posing as police officers armed with a fake search warrant managed to lure an elderly homeowner in Abarán, Murcia, into a false sense of security before stealing a large quantity of cash from her.
One of the suspects, known to the victim's granddaughter, has been arrested and charged with usurption of functions and theft, and Murcia Guardia Civil has activated operation 'Change' to locate and arrest a second perpetrator.
An investigation began after an Abarán resident reported having been the target of a robbery perpetrated by two young men who, dressed in police uniforms, entered her home with an alleged search warrant and took advantage of her "confusion" and false sense of security to steal 2,500 dollars (2,360 euros) and 1,000 euros in cash.
The 'warrant' turned out to be a document from the Tax Agency.
Officers from the Citizen Security Prevention Unit began a series of enquiries suspecting that at least one of the robbers may have been known to the victim, and possibly aware that the duped resident would have a large amount of cash at his home to buy plane tickets to fly to her country of Ecuador.
This led them to the first suspect, who was found to have a "certain relationship" with the victim's granddaughter.
The 27-year-old Spanish man, a resident of Archena, was arrested and found to have a police record for similar offences. He was also found in possession of a police T-shirt and trousers.
His case has been handed over to Cieza Court of Instruction.
The investigation is still open pending the arrest of the second suspect.
Image: Guardia Civil
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