A 51-year-old man has been placed in preventive detention following his arrest on Tuesday, as part of an investigation into several counts of aggravated theft, including vehicle theft and theft from vehicle interiors, along with the use of stolen debit and credit cards using contactless technology.
The incidents took place at night in public areas throughout various streets in the parish of Cascais, Lisbon.
The Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the Public Security Police (Cometlis) explained on Thursday that the non-flagrant arrest occurred six months after the investigation began in Cascais, Lisbon.
The investigation conducted by the Public Security Police (PSP) involved several inquiries led by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Cascais, in the Lisbon West region.
“The suspect, already known for perpetrating various criminal offenses, would seize all valuable items inside vehicles, including wallets with documents, IT equipment, personal items, car keys, even stealing vehicles, causing damage to victims amounting to several hundred euros,” Cometlis detailed.
After the arrest, authorities conducted a search of the man’s residence, seizing various items related to the crimes under investigation. It was noted that some of the recovered items have been linked to other thefts from vehicle interiors potentially carried out by the suspect earlier this year.
The PSP highlighted that the man was also implicated in another investigation concerning the crime of aggravated threat involving the use and discharge of a firearm, as well as threats with a bladed weapon. During the search, authorities seized a 12 mm caliber shotgun, four 12 mm cartridges, one of which had been fired, a dagger, and a large kitchen knife, likely used during the threats.
“With this arrest, the Public Security Police gathered solid evidence while also restoring and promoting a sense of tranquility and public safety in the municipality of Cascais,” Cometlis concluded.
