Elderly man scammed in Borken as thief poses as trustworthy stranger
An elderly man fell victim to theft by deception in Borken on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The incident occurred around noon on Gansacker Street, where an unknown woman tricked him before stealing valuables from his home. Police have now launched a criminal investigation into the case.
The suspect, described as around 30 years old with a slim build and southern European appearance, approached the man and gained his trust. She accompanied him back to his apartment before taking a gold wristwatch and a four-figure sum in cash. The total value of the stolen items is estimated in the low four-figure range.
The woman claimed to be from Spain and spoke German with an accent. Authorities are now appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. This type of crime has seen a decline in recent years. In 2025, Hessen reported a 25.9% drop in deception thefts, with Frankfurt alone seeing a 22.7% reduction to 2,433 cases. Typical victims are often pedestrians in busy areas like city centres and train stations.
Anyone with details about the incident is asked to contact Borken police at +49 5681 7740. The investigation remains ongoing as officers work to identify the suspect. The stolen items include a gold watch and cash, with the total loss valued in the low thousands.
