North Praga detectives arrested three men (aged 24, 39, and 48) suspected of participating in "legend" method scams. As reported by the Warsaw Metropolitan Police Command, the perpetrators extorted money and jewelry from a Warsaw senior and attempted to rob a woman in Tomaszów Mazowiecki.
Course of the crimes
One of the victims was a 79-year-old resident of Targówek. The perpetrators extorted 3,000 PLN in cash and jewelry worth 20,000 PLN from her. However, officers managed to prevent the theft of over 500,000 PLN that the woman was about to withdraw at a bank.
The accomplices were also involved in a similar scam in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, where they extorted 70,000 PLN from a woman. During the arrest operation, nearly 85,000 PLN was seized from the 24-year-old suspect. Meanwhile, the 48-year-old man was apprehended in an apartment on ul. Św. Wincentego, where phones and SIM cards were among the items found.
Context and penalties
The perpetrators face severe penalties: up to 12 years in prison for the 39 and 48-year-olds (who acted as recidivists) and up to 8 years for the 24-year-old. The "legend" method is also being used in other places – as sources report, on Tuesday (Oct 13), an 82-year-old woman in Płońsk County was the target of a similar attempted scam under the pretext of treating her daughter-in-law.
Decisions
The court, at the request of the prosecutor, has placed all suspects under temporary arrest.
