When he realized his mistake, it was too late.
An 85-year-old retiree from Saint-Maur-des-Fossés was abused by two thieves who disguised themselves as fake police officers in order to steal his savings.
Monday morning, around 10:15 am, two men ring the bell at René * 's door, avenue de Bretagne.
The retiree lives in a small lodge in this peaceful and residential area of Vieux-Saint-Maur.
His interlocutors are equipped with a cap bearing the “Police” logo, portable radios and present their professional cards, very similar to the real ones.
René opens with confidence.
The victim reveals his clever hiding places
The scenario of the two "agents" is well established: during the night, they arrested in the garden of the pensioner a thief who raged in his house.
The suspect is currently being questioned at the police station.
Officials must now verify what was stolen on the spot.
René then agrees to guide them to the places where he hides his savings.
Two improbable places, impossible to discover by chance.
The retiree was astute.
In one place, he had the idea of putting money under two tiles in his house.
The amount is high: 10,000 euros in cash as well as a large collection of franc coins.
The other safe place is a book he dug to hide, this time, 2,000 euros in cash and a collection of valuable stamps.
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The octogenarian confidently reveals his hiding places to false police officers.
The man is even reassured, seeing that his savings are still present despite the passage of an alleged thief in the night.
However, officials want to take fingerprints at the "crime scene".
They ask René to bring them salt and water.
One of them accompanies him to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, his accomplice is at work, looting the victim's precious treasures.
Then a surreal scene takes place where the two fake agents simulate a search and a record of digital traces before leaving, still acquired the confidence of their victim.
Shortly after, René returns to see his discreet hiding places.
Stupor: there is nothing left.
In total, nearly 90,000 euros have disappeared.
The octogenarian then understands that he has been fooled from the start and warns the national police.
A patrol - a real one this time - will unfortunately come to observe the damage of these two thieves "to the false quality".
* The first name has been changed.
