Man arrested in Costa Teguise for faking armed robbery
A 30-year-old man has been arrested in Lanzarote after falsely reporting a violent armed robbery in an attempt to recover a mobile phone he had actually left behind on a bus.
The incident was reported to the Guardia Civil in Costa Teguise on 16th July.
The man claimed he had been attacked by three armed individuals shortly after getting off a bus on Avenida del Mar, a busy area popular with both residents and tourists.
According to his statement, he was about to begin outdoor exercise when the supposed assault took place. He alleged that one of the attackers held a firearm to his chest, while the other two were armed with knives. The man claimed they stole his phone and €15 in cash before fleeing. He then said he ran to a nearby hotel for safety and later filed a formal police report.
However, officers noticed several inconsistencies in his story and referred the case to the Guardia Civil's Investigation Unit. After interviewing nearby hotel staff, no one could confirm that anyone had entered seeking help at the reported time of the incident.
Further investigation revealed CCTV footage from the local bus service showing that the man had left his phone behind on the bus. It was later found by another passenger and handed to the driver, who followed standard protocol and took it to the island’s main bus station.
The man went to the bus station hours after filing the police report and collected the phone himself, but failed to inform the authorities, despite its clear importance to the investigation.
He has since been brought before the Court in Arrecife and is facing charges of simulating a crime, which is a criminal offence under Spanish law. Falsely reporting a crime or pretending to be the victim of one can result in a fine.
Share:
