Two Arrested in Nord Over Burglaries Targeting Seniors via Exterior Key Lock Boxes
Prosecutors will present the suspects to a judge on charges of aggravated theft, fraud, weapons possession after break-ins exploited exterior key boxes.
Overview
- Authorities counted 18 incidents across several communes in the Lille area, elsewhere in Nord and in Lens, involving keys taken from exterior lock boxes to enter homes.
- The victims were primarily older adults between 71 and 104 years old, according to Lille prosecutor Samuel Finielz.
- Two men, aged 26 and 33, were arrested this week, with searches recovering items belonging to victims.
- The Lille prosecutor said the pair will be referred on Saturday on counts including aggravated theft, fraud and possession of a Category B weapon.
- Investigators describe the method as a singular theft pattern, highlighting the risks of widely used key boxes for tourist rentals and seniors, with France recording over 218,700 burglaries in 2024.