The Civil Guard has arrested a 39-year-old woman who gained the trust of elderly people near senior centres in Colmenar Viejo to steal from them. She is charged with five offences, three for theft and two for bank fraud.
The Civil Guard has detained a 39-year-old woman accused of committing at least five crimes against elderly people in Colmenar Viejo. The arrested individual, with a history of similar offences in several provinces, exploited the vulnerability of her victims, some of whom had cognitive disorders, according to sources from the armed institute.
The Modus Operandi: Gaining Trust to Steal
The investigation began last spring when an elderly man reported that a woman had gained his trust and stolen personal belongings and his credit card. From there, the agents confirmed that the suspect had made several transactions with the card at ATMs and establishments in the Community of Madrid.
The Benemérita managed to identify the alleged perpetrator thanks to the physical descriptions provided by the first victim. They soon discovered that it was not an isolated case: at least four other elderly people had suffered similar thefts or scams around the local senior centres.
Arrested While Offering to Accompany Elderly People Home
The arrest took place at the end of June after the Civil Guard received a tip-off about a woman who, in a senior centre, was offering to accompany elderly people to their homes. The agents intercepted her and placed her at the disposal of the Colmenar Viejo duty court.
According to sources, the arrested woman has previous convictions for similar offences committed in municipalities of Madrid, as well as in the provinces of Burgos, Zaragoza, and Asturias. The Civil Guard does not rule out that she may be involved in more cases and continues with the investigations.
Advice to Avoid This Type of Scam
The Civil Guard recommends that residents of Colmenar Viejo and the entire Community of Madrid exercise caution towards strangers offering to help elderly people. Do not share banking details or cards with anyone and, at the slightest suspicion, call 062.
The town of Colmenar Viejo has several day centres and residences for the elderly, a profile that the arrested woman exploited to select her victims. The agents remind that trust is the main lure of these types of criminals.
The case has caused great alarm among the families of the elderly in the area, who are calling for increased surveillance around the senior centres. The Colmenar Viejo City Council has shown its cooperation with the Civil Guard to prevent new incidents.
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