Suspect Arrested in Bold Heist at Portugal's Ministry of Internal Administration

Suspect Detained for Ministry Heist

A suspect has been arrested in connection with the burglary of the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) in Lisbon, which occurred early on Wednesday, August 28. The individual, reportedly 39 years old, was apprehended on Monday.

According to reports, the crime took place at approximately 5 AM. However, police were only alerted at 9:52 AM when staff arrived to find offices in disarray, with signs of forced entry.

Investigation Details

Investigators believe the suspect acted alone. He is now set to face a judge as part of an inquiry conducted by the Lisbon Criminal Investigation and Action Department. The Public Security Police (PSP) deployed multiple teams to gather information and analyze evidence leading to the suspect's identification.

Circumstances of the Heist

Margarida Blasco, the Minister of Internal Administration, stated that the intrusion was facilitated by scaling a neighboring building under renovation. The time of the crime, along with the scaffolding, allowed the suspect to access the premises unnoticed. Alarm systems were absent, and the surveillance cameras were non-operational, as reported.

During the burglary, eight computers were stolen, some of which had not yet been used. One belonged to the head of IT, while another was assigned to the deputy secretary-general Teresa Costa. As of now, the stolen equipment has not been recovered.