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Seven-Year Term Sought for Suspected Serial Burglar in Northern Netherlands as Police Publish Fraud Suspect Images

A 33-year-old Lithuanian is on trial over nearly 29 break-ins, with a verdict scheduled for 9 December.

Overview

  • Prosecutors told the court the defendant carried out 29 home burglaries and nine attempts in under a month across Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe, and they demanded a seven-year prison sentence.
  • According to the case file, he targeted mostly detached houses, broke windows using a catapult and fishing sinkers, operated from a Groningen hotel and shipped stolen jewelry to Lithuania, declaring about €15,000 in proceeds.
  • The prosecutor stressed lasting insecurity among victims and the loss of sentimental jewelry that is unlikely to be recovered.
  • In Tilburg, an elderly resident was duped twice on 16 May by callers posing as the FIOD and tech support, leading to the handover of valuables to a fake undercover officer and subsequent bank losses via remote-access software.
  • In Moergestel, a 2 September babbeltruc involved callers impersonating bank staff and police before a man collected an envelope with jewelry and bank cards; clear suspect images aired on Bureau Brabant, and police issued descriptions in both Brabant cases.