Mother & two sons held for 12 street robberies, fencing operation

Three family members and a close friend were arrested in Rotterdam Zuid on suspicion of at least 12 different street robberies and fencing of stolen property, police said on Monday. The robberies linked to the investigation took place from last October through February, often involving purse snatching where the offenders fled by scooter. The use of a similar scooter in each crime drew police attention, eventually leading Feyenoord district officers to a basement storage area in Rotterdam Zuid on January 18. There, they found the scooter with a large quantity of goods linked to various robberies. Two brothers, aged 37 and 30, were arrested for the robberies, and were remanded into custody by a magistrate on April 5. Their 58-year-old mother was taken into custody for fencing, as was a 26-year-old friend. They were released from custody until their trial. Investigators think it’s possible that more cases will be linked to the four suspects. Victims that were already identified were kept informed of the developments, police said.