Brazen Operation of "Gold Rush on the Highways"
In an unusual incident on Tuesday afternoon (20th August), police officers in Cologne took three suspected fraudsters into custody at the Cologne-North federal motorway interchange.
The three suspects, who were two men aged 25 and 30, and a woman aged 23, were accused of attempting to stop passing motorists and relieve them of their money. The first man arrested was a 28-year-old man, the woman was 38 years old, but their first names are not mentioned; the second man was a 31-year-old suspect also without a first name provided.
Around 12:30 pm, the suspects tried to flag down drivers with hand signals, claiming they had run out of fuel and urgently needed cash to buy more. However, the approached individuals called the police instead of engaging in the suspicious transaction.
Upon investigation, police found a bag full of "gold jewelry" in the suspects' Audi. The suspects offered these pieces as a pledge, but it is unclear if they intended to return them.
In addition to the three suspects, two young children (5 and 6) were also taken to the station. Witnesses with information about the incident or who were approached by the suspects are asked to contact Criminal Commissioner 33. Their contact details are: phone number 0221 229-0 and email address [email protected].
This incident serves as a reminder to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities. Let's work together to ensure the safety of our community.
