International Thieves Caught Red-Handed in Lisbon: Judge Shocks by Releasing Them

PSP Apprehends Professional Thieves in Lisbon

Two women, aged 21 and 24, were caught in the act by the PSP (Public Security Police) in the Lumiar area of Lisbon. They are part of an international criminal network specializing in home burglaries during the owners' vacations.

How They Were Caught

A building concierge alerted a police patrol after an apartment alarm was triggered. The owners were confirmed to be away on holiday. Officers found the suspects behaving suspiciously, attempting to flee the building while discarding stolen items. Recovered objects included tools for door opening, materials to conceal their identities, and a box containing various pieces of jewelry.

The apartment door was found open with the lock cylinder disassembled on the floor, and the interior was ransacked.

Investigation and Outcome

The homeowner was contacted by police and verified the jewelry box's contents. A complaint was filed, leading to the arrest of the two suspects. The stolen goods were later returned to the rightful owner.

Further investigations confirmed that the detainees were members of an international theft ring that targets residences when owners are on vacation.

Despite the evidence, the women were presented to a judge and released under terms of identity and residence, with a prohibition on leaving national territory.