According to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), two men aged 52 and 48 from Romania robbed vulnerable elderly people of their debit cards and money in Roden and Meppel, among others. The eldest faces a prison sentence of three years and nine months. The youngest was sentenced to three years in prison.
The men have been in custody since March 15. Their raid was stopped in Zuidhorn by an alert supermarket manager. This employee noticed that two men in the store were constantly annoying elderly customers.
He already called the police and described the men. This pair was registered nationally and the personal description matched these men.
“The alertness of this manager in Zuidhorn prevented further suffering,” the prosecutor said. Both suspects had been active throughout the Netherlands for six weeks. Moving around made them harder to catch, the prosecutor said.
According to him, there was a fixed working method. Vulnerable elderly people who had difficulty walking were followed, distracted and then robbed. “Brazen thefts,” the prosecutor said.
One of the men spoke to them while the other snatched the bag. The men also did not shy away from spraying ketchup on the walker, mobility scooter or the back of the jacket. Their potential victim was alerted to this ‘accident’ and helped to remove the stain. The suspects then fled.
Within half an hour, the Romanians emptied the account by purchasing luxury items or withdrawing money from ATMs. “You can call this speed debit card. Debit card payment until the card is blocked,” the prosecutor outlined. Some PIN codes were written down on a note and kept with the card. Other codes were checked during checkout.
“Very sophisticated,” said the public prosecutor. He sees sufficient evidence in the camera images of the PIN transactions in which the men can be seen. Several victims also described in detail the two men who had confused them. The suspects drove around in a Ford Mondeo. That car was also mentioned several times.
According to the public prosecutor, this probably concerns internationally organized crime. Also called mobile banditry. But there is no further evidence for this. The suspects only confessed when there was hard evidence. In addition, they hid behind alcohol and drug abuse. They could remember little, they said.
Both have served lengthy prison sentences in various European countries for similar offences. It often concerns an internationally operating network, the public prosecutor said. The youngest suspect arrived in Eindhoven by plane on February 27 and was active in Rosmalen the same day. The prosecutor believes that a strong signal should be sent that this type of crime must be punished.
The verdict is on November 25.