Bilzen (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Burglaries are rising in Bilzen-Hoeselt-Riemst. Police Chief Dirk Claes urges residents to stay alert and report suspicious activity to 101.
In the past three weeks, the Bilzen-Hoeselt-Riemst police have seen a rise in burglaries, which has made residents uneasy. Police Chief Dirk Claes reported at least three break-ins in just a few days, leading to increased police attention in the area. Although he did not mention specific incidents, he maintained that things have become relatively quieter these days, and that is positive. He always emphasizes vigilance and tells everybody to report anything perceived as suspicious in the presence of the police.
How are burglars in Bilzen-Hoeselt-Riemst evading capture?
The police investigation has revealed that the burglars come from a nearby forest to avoid detection on the main road, making it harder for residents to spot them. Chief Claes noted that they enter the back gardens to access homes. Despite thorough searches in the forest area, police have found little evidence so far. They even put up cameras on the side of the woods in expectation of getting images of the robbery suspects or where the escape van is coming in from. For now, the surveillance does not show any clear results.
The burglars are mainly looking for money and jewelry, which are easy to sell. Chief Claes mentioned that while the exact value of stolen items can be hard to figure out, the emotional value for the victims is huge. He is asking everyone to keep reporting anything strange to emergency number 101.
