Police uniforms stolen from homes of two officers

The house of two Netherlands police officers was burgled last weekend in the municipal district of Midden-Drenthe, police spokesperson told Ernest Zinsmeijer from RVT Noord. A complete new uniform with the dark fabric and large yellow stripe was stolen from each of the two officers. No weapons were taken, Zinsmeijer said, adding that it is unfortunately somewhat common for thieves to steal the uniforms and later use them in crimes. Two men dressed as uniformed officers were wanted in connection with the violent home invasion of and elderly Jewish couple living in Amsterdam. Another house was raided in Breda this past February by four offenders dressed in SWAT uniforms, while an elderly lady in Ridderkerk was robbed of her jewelry by two men dressed as cops in March. Police are asking citizens to be vigilant, and to call the police if they are visited by officers wearing incomplete or ill-fitting uniforms. Zinsmeijer also advises citizens to request identification from the police when they visit a household, though some robberies in the Netherlands have included the use of either a fake badge or falsified police ID cards.