Suspect arrested after dozens of car break-ins

The police have arrested a 35-year-old man without a fixed place of residence in Enschede in the early hours of Thursday night/Friday, just after 3:00 AM. The man is suspected of involvement in at least dozens of car break-ins over the past few months.

The police investigation began in the Arnhem region after a large number of car break-ins occurred in October of last year. Similar spikes have been observed in the Nijmegen, 's-Hertogenbosch, Zwolle, and most recently Enschede regions. In nearly all cases, the vehicles targeted were BMWs, with a few MINIs also affected.

Same modus operandi

The car break-ins followed a similar pattern. The car window was forced open, after which electronic multimedia and vehicle systems were generally stolen. In some cases, the damage per break-in amounted to over ten thousand euros.

The suspect was arrested on Stadsgravenstraat in Enschede, is in custody, and further investigation into his involvement and the exact number of cases is ongoing. During the arrest, stolen goods and burglary tools were recovered.

Preventing car break-ins

While break-ins like these can never be entirely prevented, there are several tips to minimize the risk. These can be found, for example, on the website of the Dutch Centre for Crime Prevention and Safety (CCV). If you see someone breaking into a vehicle, call 112 immediately. In a so-called 'hot pursuit' situation, this is always allowed and increases the chances of catching the perpetrator.

If you have been a victim, always file a police report. This helps the police identify patterns and track down suspects, as in this investigation.