The suspected tangle of gold scams, which has hit southern Sweden recently, continues to grow.
But despite the fact that over 250 police reports have now been submitted, it is not certain that all of them will be investigated.
– It’s about legal economy, says prosecutor Jakob Holmberg.
Jakob Holmberg, senior prosecutor, says that the investigation is in an intensive stage.
– We will look at the reports that exist, see if we can prove a crime and also tie a perpetrator to the crime. And see if we can then proceed with prosecution in those parts.
Cheated via leaflets
The notifications came in from a large number of locations in southern Sweden. The approach has been similar: Flyers invite those who want to sell gold and other valuables to a meeting at, for example, a hotel, but after the items are handed over, the promised payment does not come. Among the reports are also hotels that have been cheated on the rent.
In total, more than 250 reports have been received by the police regions South and West. TV4 Nyheterna has, among other things, told about 76-year-old Tone in Ulricehamn, who was tricked into leaving objects worth 12,000 kroner, including his gold confirmation watch.
Risk that not all are investigated
The Prosecutor’s Office in Skövde is leading the preliminary investigation and has had a 21-year-old man detained, despite his denial, on suspicion of six counts of fraud. But even if both more suspicions and suspects may be added, the prosecutor may have to limit the investigation – and thus sift through the victims.
– If that were to be the case, it is not entirely unusual today. And it is about legal economics. The legislature has said that we must catch the perpetrators who have committed crimes. It is more important that they are prosecuted, than that exactly all, 100 percent, of those who may have been affected have their case tried in court, says Jakob Holmberg.