A home invasion took place last week in Hof ter Linden castle in ‘s-Gravenwezel (Schilde). Four armed men tied up the residents and made off with jewelry, among other things. The victim is a Dutch millionaire.
The events took place on the night of Wednesday to Thursday last week, at 3.50 am the emergency services were alerted. Four people, masked and armed with a firearm, had invaded a house on the Hof ter Linden castle grounds on Beukendreef in ‘s-Gravenwezel (Schilde). “The two residents aged 53 and 61 and two staff members aged 48 and 51 were threatened. The couple received severe blows,” confirms Kristof Aerts, spokesperson for the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office. The perpetrators allegedly forced them to open the safe and eventually made off with car keys, mobile phones, handbags and jewelry. “The victims suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital,” says Aerts.
The victims are a Dutch millionaire, his wife and two live-in staff members. According to the Dutch business magazine Quote, the millionaire made his fortune in the IT business. After selling one of his companies, he bought Hof ter Linden, where several of his companies are now located. The gigantic castle grounds – which in addition to the house also contain several outbuildings such as a coach house and horse stables – also have a helicopter port registered, so that his helicopter can land in front of the door.
The investigation into the facts is being conducted by the federal judicial police. The images from the many (ANPR) cameras in the area will be examined, among other things.
© jeroen hanselaer
(above)
