Even nursing homes are not spared from burglars… Monday afternoon, a certain Bernie* appeared before the Melun criminal court for having climbed the wall of the accommodation establishment for dependent elderly people (Ehpad) Repotel in Lieusaint on April 20, stole a key as a repeat offender and refused to give the access code of his cell phone to the police who arrested him. Also prosecuted for use of narcotics found on him, he was also prosecuted for having failed to return to the semi-liberty center (CSL) in Essonne where he had been since November 7, 2023.
Saturday April 20, around 4 a.m., the police were alerted because two individuals, including one wearing a hood, entered the retirement home. According to two nursing assistants, they tried to enter the director’s office and opened the key board hanging next to it. Nothing is missing except a key. When the police arrived, one of the thugs was seen running into the park and disappearing while the other was found by the police, hiding in a bush. It’s Bernie, 26 years old. On him, a hood, gloves and… a key. He is the subject of a research file following his escape from a CSL in Essonne.
In the dock, he explains himself. “On the encrypted Telegram messaging service, a guy contacted me and asked me if I was keen to do something and earn some money. He asked for 10%, told me there was no break-in, no one to hit. That doesn’t excuse the fact that I’m going there…” he comments. “Why did you accept? », asks the president. ” I had no more money ! Before I worked. But as I was declared an escapee from the “semi center”, I could not return to my employer. Frankly, I haven’t thought about it,” replies Bernie.
Still 89 months of imprisonment to serve
He says he used Citygo (carpooling site) to get there. “The second guy, I don’t know him. I don’t hang out in 77. I don’t know anyone in the nursing home,” assures this young person from Châtenay-Malabry (Hauts-de-Seine). The duo enters the site through a bay window.
“Morally, you don’t mind stealing from a retirement home? » asks an assessor judge. “There is no excuse for what I did. Morally, it bothers me but I didn’t have the means. Sometimes we don’t think. It’s only when you’re at the bottom of the hole that you think.”
The prosecutor dismantles this simplistic version of the facts from the defendant who is not a novice. “You are appearing in court for the 17th time! When you tell the judges anything, they tend to be more severe! » He questions the carpooling at 4 a.m., the fact that out of 60 keys he accidentally took the one from the trunk… “Are you insinuating that I’m lying? I won’t answer your questions anymore,” Bernie replies.
Sentenced to ten months in prison with continued detention.
On his escape from the CSL, he explains it for security reasons in relation to the presence of another threatening inmate. His lawyer encourages him to talk about his girlfriend who lives alone and has a mobility disability… Why did you refuse to give her access code to her phone? “The cops at the ferry beat me, so I didn’t want to give it to them.”
The prosecutor denies: “he received no injury during the arrest, the medical certificate says so. Accessing his phone would have allowed us to find out more about this burglary.” And continues: “If he had kept quiet, he would perhaps already be free. Going to the CSL is a chance we give, he didn’t take it. He decided to continue…” Bernie would still have 89 months of imprisonment to serve for his various past misdeeds.
The magistrate requires five months in prison for the escape from the CSL (penalty corresponding to the revocation of what remained to be carried out) and 18 months in prison with a committal warrant for the theft as a repeat offender. “I regret the facts and I apologize for my behavior,” he said lastly. In the end he was sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment with continued detention.
*The first name has been changed.
