Landes – Pyrénées-Atlantiques – Series of thefts by trickery in sports halls: the gendarmerie puts an end to the actions of a man with compulsive gambling habits

In the South-West of France, sports halls in the Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques departments were the target of a series of thefts by trickery which stretched over several months.

These thefts were committed discreetly and repeatedly between March and May 2024. The perpetrator of these crimes, an individual using his membership status, entered the sports halls and took advantage of his presence in the locker rooms to steal cash and payment cards belonging to other members.

35 distinct facts identified by the Landes gendarmerie

The Saint-Sever Gendarmerie Brigade, located in the Landes, finally succeeded in clarifying this matter and putting an end to the criminal's activities. At the heart of the investigation, the investigation director of the Landes gendarmerie carried out meticulous investigations which made it possible to identify 35 distinct facts. These offenses took place in the two neighboring departments, Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and were characterized by similar operating methods.

A gaming addiction

The thief's motive was subsequently revealed: a marked addiction to games, in particular horse racing sports betting, led this individual to squander all of the stolen sums in betting shops.

This addiction to gambling allowed investigators to understand the reasons for these repeated acts and how the funds were spent almost immediately after the thefts.

Following his admission of the facts, the author of the thefts was summoned before the Mont-de-Marsan Judicial Court. He will be judged within the framework of a Summons by Judicial Police Officer (COPJ), a procedure which will allow his actions and their impact on the victims to be examined.

This case highlights the difficulties that sports halls may encounter in securing the property of their members. It also recalls the serious consequences of gambling addictions, which can push certain individuals to illegal actions to finance their compulsion.