Robbery Deception in Cologne-Ossendorf: Swindle Leads to Theft in the District
In Cologne-Ossendorf, a smartphone theft occurred on Sunday, August 10. The victim, who noticed the theft after discovering that the carton had a different IMEI number and storage capacity, filed a complaint with the police and handed over the fake carton.
The alleged smartphone sale was presumably arranged via the online marketplace eBay Kleinanzeigen between a 32-year-old from Cologne and two suspects. The suspects are described as having short, dark hair, with one having a beard. They are aged 25-30.
During the negotiations, one of the suspects exchanged the original smartphone for a fake one. The stolen smartphone was originally sealed and offered for sale on the online platform.
The Criminal Police are urgently seeking witnesses to provide information about the suspects and/or the method of the crime. If you have any information, please consider contacting the police.
To prevent such incidents, the police recommend taking precautions when selling or buying valuable items. If possible, meet in a public place for sales negotiations. It's also advisable to take a trusted person with you during such negotiations.
When checking returned items, compare IMEI numbers, storage size, and other product details with your contract data to ensure they are indeed yours. Be cautious when handing over or showing valuable items that have previously been published with pictures on the internet.
For further information, please visit the following page: https://www.polizeiberatung.de/
In case of suspicious findings, choose the emergency number "110". Stay vigilant and keep your personal belongings safe.
