The key to a successful burglary? Try the French police

Doglips · 11-13-2004, 05:14 PM

The key to a successful burglary? Try the French police

Sat Nov 13, 3:06 PM ET

PARIS (AFP) - A swindler posing as the owner of a jewelery store outside Paris managed to steal a set of luxury pens and watches with the unwitting help of local police and a locksmith, police said on Saturday.

Claiming to be the owner of a jewelery store a few blocks away, a 30-year-old man called in at the police station in Enghien-les-Bains, a small town northwest of Paris, at around midnight on Saturday last week.

The man, identified only as Yves, told the officers he had lost his keys and needed their help to get into the shop. They kindly obliged, calling in a locksmith to pry open the door.

The locksmith became suspicious, however, after the man reached for the shop's display counters, grabbing a handful of fountain pens and watches -- among them a Rolex.

He asked him for an ID, but the burglar said he had left his papers at the police station. He then fled the scene, carrying with him booty worth some 10,OOO euros (13,000 dollars).

Police caught up with the thief the following day, and recovered part of the loot from his home in a nearby town.

Big Dog · 11-13-2004, 05:23 PM

Ah, they are proud graduates of the venerable "Inspector Clouseau Academie", of the elite french Surete (Police).
Kudos to the locksmith - better late than never. An American locksmith asks for ID up front.

11-13-2004, 05:14 PM	#1
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,089	The key to a successful burglary? Try the French police The key to a successful burglary? Try the French police Sat Nov 13, 3:06 PM ET PARIS (AFP) - A swindler posing as the owner of a jewelery store outside Paris managed to steal a set of luxury pens and watches with the unwitting help of local police and a locksmith, police said on Saturday. Claiming to be the owner of a jewelery store a few blocks away, a 30-year-old man called in at the police station in Enghien-les-Bains, a small town northwest of Paris, at around midnight on Saturday last week. The man, identified only as Yves, told the officers he had lost his keys and needed their help to get into the shop. They kindly obliged, calling in a locksmith to pry open the door. The locksmith became suspicious, however, after the man reached for the shop's display counters, grabbing a handful of fountain pens and watches -- among them a Rolex. He asked him for an ID, but the burglar said he had left his papers at the police station. He then fled the scene, carrying with him booty worth some 10,OOO euros (13,000 dollars). Police caught up with the thief the following day, and recovered part of the loot from his home in a nearby town.

11-13-2004, 05:23 PM	#2
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,208	Ah, they are proud graduates of the venerable "Inspector Clouseau Academie", of the elite french Surete (Police). Kudos to the locksmith - better late than never. An American locksmith asks for ID up front. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.