Karma Strikes: Shock Caller Walks Into Police Control with Stolen Gold
Munich, February 27 – In a stroke of luck for law enforcement, a 45-year-old alleged trickster was apprehended at Munich Main Station on Thursday morning, carrying a significant haul of gold and silver coins reportedly worth around 50,000 euros. The man, a Polish national residing in Berlin, was stopped during a routine police check and found to be in possession of the valuable items, which were later linked to a ‘shock call’ scam.
Routine Check Leads to Unexpected Discovery
Officers from Police Inspectorate 16 (Hauptbahnhof) noticed the man acting suspiciously shortly before 11:00 AM. They decided to conduct a “suspicion-independent check,” as a police spokesperson reported on Friday. The 45-year-old, who was on his way back to Berlin, was found to be carrying a substantial collection of heavy gold and silver coins.
When questioned about the ownership of the coins and asked to provide proof, the suspect struggled to provide a coherent explanation. He was subsequently arrested and taken into custody. The individual was already known to the police for previous property offenses and theft.
Connecting the Dots: The Shock Call Scam
Investigators quickly established that the confiscated coins belonged to a 75-year-old pensioner from Aubing. The day before the arrest, the woman had fallen victim to a sophisticated ‘shock call’ scam. A caller, impersonating her grandson, falsely claimed that he had caused a severe traffic accident, injuring a pregnant woman and her unborn child.
To prevent her grandson from being taken into custody, the scammer demanded a bail payment. The senior citizen, under immense pressure, handed over her valuable collection of gold and silver coins to a courier at her apartment. It was only later, when she managed to reach her actual grandson by phone, that the fraud was uncovered, and she promptly reported the incident to the police.
Happy Ending for the Victim, Legal Troubles for the Suspect
The story has now reached a positive conclusion for the victim, who will have all her gold and silver coins returned. Meanwhile, the arrested suspect is currently in pre-trial detention. Police also seized multiple mobile phones and cash from him. If convicted, the man faces a lengthy prison sentence.
This incident highlights the ongoing threat of ‘shock call’ scams. On Wednesday alone, 25 cases of such calls were reported to the police in Munich, underscoring the prevalence of this type of fraud targeting vulnerable individuals.
