Agents of the National Police have detained in the Alicante city of Benidorm a 53-year-old man who had claimed the theft of his mobile phone through violence or intimidation, although the events actually occurred differently. It looks like he faked the report so he could get a payout from his insurance company to replace the mobile.
The individual had claimed a mobile phone theft, but when officers from Group IV of the Benidorm Police Station stopped the suspect they confirmed that the alleged event had not taken place. “at knifepoint” by a man who snatched his high-end mobile phone, valued at 1,379 euros, the Police Headquarters said in a statement that the accused victim reported being assaulted.
The victim reported the incident and claimed for it from his insurance company, which covered this type of theft under his coverage. The officers in charge of the case have started their investigation to clarify the facts, including calling the complainant to the Judicial Police offices at the police station to provide further information that could cast light on the development of the ongoing inquiry. In the second instance, the complainant told the court the events had not occurred as recounted but he had left his phone at the home of an associate who had subsequently returned it to him. However, he filed the insurance claim even though he had recovered the stolen phone and had it in his hands. This was a new offence – attempted fraud – on top of the fake police report. All these reasons, together with other findings included into the inquiry, led to the officers in charge of the case arresting him as the alleged perpetrator of the crimes of false police report and attempted fraud.
Sometimes the National Police get reports from citizens who wish to claim compensation from their insurance for an item lost or damaged. Further investigations reveal that the events recorded never truly happened as mentioned and confirmed in the report, thus committing a crime. Therefore, the National Police reports to citizens that the crime of making a false police report is committed when a citizen reports an incident that did not actually happen or a crime other than the one that actually happened. This can be further aggravated by the crime of fraud through the subsequent insurance claim, which can lead to the arrest of the individual making the report and the criminal record with all the repercussions attached.
