Officers from Group IV of the Benidorm Police Station carried out the arrest of an individual who had reported being a victim of mobile phone theft, when in reality the events did not occur as described.
In the report, the alleged victim stated that he had been assaulted by a man who, «at knifepoint», had stolen his high-end mobile phone, valued at 1,379 euros. After filing the report, he claimed compensation from his insurance, as he had a policy covering such thefts.
The officers in charge of the case began investigations to clarify the facts. When summoned to provide further information at the Judicial Police facilities, the complainant confessed that he had left the phone at a friend's house, who later returned it to him.
“"Reporting an event that did not actually occur, or a crime different from what happened, constitutes a crime of simulating a crime, to which a crime of fraud can be added due to the subsequent insurance claim."
Despite having recovered the phone and having it in his possession, he processed the insurance claim, which led to the commission of a new crime: attempted fraud, in addition to the simulation of a crime. For all these reasons, investigators arrested him as the alleged perpetrator of both offenses.
The National Police reminds citizens that simulating a crime or reporting false facts to obtain financial compensation from insurance companies can lead to the complainant's arrest and the creation of a criminal record.
