An individual was arrested on Friday and is now in custody at Custódias Prison in Matosinhos, accused of deceiving and kidnapping a 69-year-old man in Vila Nova de Gaia, in the Porto district.
The incident escalated three months ago when the 69-year-old victim and the 38-year-old suspect met through a dating and pornography website. During this period, the suspect, posing as a woman, corresponded with the victim. They agreed to meet this past Friday.
After exchanging emails, the married victim went to the address provided by the suspect in Canelas, Gaia. Upon arrival, he was threatened by a knife-wielding man who forced him into an apartment. It was then that the victim realized the scam, aimed at robbing him.
The victim handed over his bank cards and codes, 140 euros, and the keys to his car, which was parked nearby. He was then locked inside the apartment without any means to call for help.
The planned meeting was at 2:30 pm, but suspicions only arose three hours later. After robbing the elderly man, the aggressor went to a large shopping center where he spent over a thousand euros on energy drinks, a PlayStation, and cards for online game purchases.
However, while shopping, the suspect had a large knife in his back pocket, drawing the attention of both customers and employees. Authorities were alerted, and GNR officers went to the scene, subsequently detaining the man.
Once the officers discovered the bank cards belonged to someone else, they went to the victim’s house, but nobody knew his whereabouts. They then proceeded to the suspect’s residence, where they found the kidnapped victim.
The suspect, who has a criminal record for theft and robbery, was released from prison two years ago after serving a seven-year sentence. Following his recent arrest and a hearing before the appropriate authorities, he was placed in pretrial detention.
