Fake police officer preys on elderly people in the canton of Vaud
Published: Thursday, Jun 20th 2024, 14:11
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A 20-year-old Frenchman has posed as a fake police officer in the canton of Vaud in order to rob elderly people in their homes. Seven cases were reported in Lausanne alone.
A patrol of the cantonal gendarmerie discovered the suspected fraudster last Saturday in front of an ATM in Yverdon-les-Bains VD, as reported by the Lausanne municipal police on Thursday. His signaling corresponded to that of a man suspected of stealing from elderly people.
During the check, bank cards were found that did not belong to the man. His hotel room was then searched, where bundles of money and another bank card were found. The man was taken into custody.
Initial investigations revealed that he had visited elderly people in Lausanne several times between June 10 and 12. The victims had previously been contacted by telephone by someone claiming to be a police officer, the police wrote.
The fake police officer told them that a colleague would be coming to their home to ask for bank cards and their codes, money or jewelry for investigations or for safekeeping. After the call, the man appeared at the victims' homes and left with the valuables. He used the fraudulently obtained bank cards to withdraw money from ATMs.
A total of seven cases were reported in Lausanne before the alleged perpetrator committed further similar crimes in the canton. Today, it cannot be ruled out that cases have occurred without the police having been informed.
The investigation is being conducted by the Lausanne criminal investigation department together with the security police of the Vaud cantonal police under the direction of the public prosecutor's office.
©Keystone/SDA
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