Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The 61-year-old woman lost her life on March 17 when robbers attacked her Sint-Pieters-Woluwe residence in Brussels. According to Het Nieuwsblad’s Saturday report, the Brussels public prosecutor’s office confirmed that the news was true.
The Goodyear chief executive’s wife suffered fatal injuries in a robbery attack at her Sint-Pieters-Woluwe, Brussels apartment on March 17. Het Nieuwsblad reported alongside the Brussels public prosecutor that an attacker entered the home wearing a mask before stabbing the resident and taking expensive watches and jewelry before leaving.
The husband discovered his wife’s dead body in their home before emergency medical services declared her deceased at the location. The authorities launched a manslaughter investigation but refused to disclose additional information due to the active investigation and family privacy considerations.
“The public prosecutor’s office has requested an investigating judge for manslaughter,”
the Brussels public prosecutor’s office said.
“In the interest of the investigation and out of respect for the victim’s family, no further comment will be made.”
What is the history behind rising violent crime in Brussels?
The residents of Sint-Pieters-Woluwe and other wealthy Brussels neighborhoods have become worried about increasing violent crime, as the recent homicide demonstrates. Statbel, the national statistics office of Belgium, indicates a 12% increase in aggravated robberies across Brussels in 2023 and recorded more than 2,500 cases. Organised crime groups have been identified as responsible for increasing crimes involving luxury watches and jewelry, which have become prevalent targets of theft.
Security experts identify Brussels as a prime target for crimes against wealthy residents because it serves as a major international business hub around EU institutions and multinational corporate offices. A Belgian Federal Police report from 2022 revealed that foreign nationals conducted approximately 40% of violent robberies in the capital, thus causing concern regarding criminal activities crossing borders.
Another upscale community within Brussels, called Uccle saw a French businessperson die by stabbings during a residential break-in that occurred in 2021. Opponents believe police activities in wealthy areas receive inconsistent attention despite the added patrols in those locations.
