In the last two months, PSP has recorded 82 cases of residence theft using the so -called “mistake of deceit”. It is a tactic where criminals convince the Portuguese to open the door, using different pretexts to gain their trust.
In most cases, women touch the bell and present stories that seem harmless. They can ask for a glass of water, say they work to clean the building and need a bucket, or show interest in buying or leasing an apartment. Other approaches include asking a pen to leave a message from a neighbor or use a child to ask to use the bathroom.
As soon as they can enter, the robbers work in groups. While one distracts the victim, others enter without realizing it and seek valuables such as money, jewelry and gold. There is still a third element, usually a man, who is abroad in an ready -to -escape car.
Who are the victims and why are they chosen?
This type of crime has as its main targets people living alone, especially the elderly. Many of the victims have difficulties in mobility or health problems, which makes it more difficult to move to the squads to complain.
Another determining factor is the lack of housing security systems and the difficulty in recognizing suspects later. Friday seems to be the favorite day for robbers, as it is when many of these people get money from the banks for the weekend.
The criminals previously study their victims, observing their daily habits. They choose the targets based on personal characteristics, not just the location of the residence.
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Where are these crimes happen and who is behind them?
According to the authorities, thefts are happening in various regions of the country, but there is a higher concentration in the Metropolitan area of Lisbon, namely in the municipalities of Almada and Seixal. However, cases have also been recorded in Porto, Madeira, Aveiro and Faro.
So far, no detention has been made, but, according to, PSP has several criminal processes in investigation. These criminal networks are believed to be highly organized and that robbers may be linked to each other. Police also warn that there are criminals who often change in zone to avoid being identified and recognized by the victims.
How can you protect from this type of crime?
PSP has issued several alerts to the Portuguese to prevent more people from being deceived by this scheme. Among the main recommendations, we highlight the importance of always keeping the building door closed and never opening the door to strangers, regardless of the story it tells.
It is also advised not to accept orders that are not on your behalf and not to provide personal data to strangers. If it detects suspicious movements in your residence zone, you should immediately contact PSP.
Another essential caution is to avoid sharing on social networks about the family’s routine or prolonged absences of the house. This information can be used by criminals to plan the robberies.
With this scheme to spread quickly, prevention and attention to detail can be fundamental to avoid falling into the “method of deceit” and that more Portuguese become victims.
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