Anderlecht (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): A stolen phone was tracked to Anderlecht after a crash in Ghent. Police found it with a suspect who had 16 stolen phones likely from festivals. The suspect was released with a warning after questioning.
After the car crash in Ghent one of the people found their stolen phone in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek last Friday at 7 a.m. They used the phone’s tracking feature to see where it was and told the police. The police quickly went there and got the phone back. Despite their swift arrival the police were unable to locate the phone at the given location. The circumstances around the phone’s disappearance remain unclear and it is uncertain if the device was moved or if there were other factors involved. The investigation into the phone’s whereabouts continues as part of the broader inquiry into the accident.
How did police uncover a major phone theft ring in Anderlecht?
The stolen phone’s signal showed up again at afternoon this time in Sympathiestraat in Anderlecht. The police quickly went there based on the new location. When they got there they saw a person in the park taking a phone out of a plastic bag. The police went up to the person and kept them for more checking. They found 16 stolen phones with the suspect including the one from Sympathiestraat. They got the phone back and are now looking into whether the suspect is part of a bigger stealing scheme.
It has been said that the suspect might have been part of a plan to steal from people at these festivals. On top of the stolen phones they found out the suspect was using a stolen scooter to get around. They have charged him with receiving stolen goods. Now the authorities are investigating how much the suspect was involved in these thefts and other crimes.The police talked to most of the people who had their phones stolen. The victims were not just from Belgium but also from France, Germany and the United Kingdom. They also gave back the stolen scooter to its real owner. The young suspect was taken to the public prosecutor after being asked questions. The suspect was let go with a serious warning after talking to the judge on duty.
