The PSP have arrested a 56 year old man for seven crimes of vehicle theft over the last year, using video surveillance footage taken in Praia da Rocha.
According to the Faro District Command of the PSP , “the suspect used different methods to commit thefts, such as drilling holes in vehicle tires or other distracting actions, with the aim of causing the drivers to leave their respective vehicles, enabling the quick removal of articles that were visible inside the cars”.
Another method adopted by the detainee consisted of “opening one of the vehicle doors when the owners were using remote controls to lock them. In this way, that door remained unlocked and it was possible to access the vehicles later and discreetly, to carry out the theft”.
The man was highly meticulous in his actions, travelling to in to Portimão sporadically to commit the thefts, then leaving for indefinite periods in between.
Throughout the year long investigation, the Portimão PSP collected evidence of six thefts from vehicles, with value of around €3200 euros, but were unable to track down the man.
This Sunday morning, when viewing images obtained through the video surveillance system installed in the Praia da Rocha area, it was at last possible to catch the suspect when he had just committed yet another theft, stealing items worth around €900 from the car. These items were recovered and handed over to the rightful owner.
The man will be present in Court today, for the application of coercive measures considered appropriate while awaiting trial.
