Apolda, September 22, 2026 – A 91-year-old man became the victim of scammers posing as police officers in Apolda on Monday evening. The perpetrators stole a coin collection valued at nearly 28,000 euros.
- Incident: Fraud by individuals posing as police officers
- Loss: Gold coins valued at approximately 28,000 euros
- Location: Reuschelstraße, Apolda
- Time: Monday, September 21, 2026, approx. 6:30 PM
- Call for witnesses: Information to the Polizeiinspektion Apolda at 03644/541-0
How the crime occurred
According to police reports, the senior received a call on Monday evening from an unknown person claiming to be a police officer. The caller reported an alleged burglary in the neighborhood and inquired about the 91-year-old’s financial assets. After the man mentioned he possessed a coin collection, the scammers claimed they needed to collect the valuables to protect them from further burglaries.
At approximately 6:30 PM, an unidentified individual arrived at the victim’s residence on Reuschelstraße and took possession of the coins.
Police call for witnesses
The criminal investigation department has initiated an inquiry. Witnesses who observed suspicious persons or vehicles in the area of Reuschelstraße in Apolda between 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM on Monday, September 21, 2026, are requested to contact the Polizeiinspektion Apolda.
Police prevention advice
The police are using this incident as an opportunity to raise awareness among relatives, friends, and neighbors of elderly individuals:
- Talk to elderly people and educate them about common fraud schemes.
- The real police will never demand money or valuables over the phone and will never collect them.
- Do not allow yourself to be pressured.
- When in doubt: End the conversation immediately, hang up, and call 110 or a trusted relative.
Source:
LPI-J: Fraud – Impersonators steal gold coins worth 28,000 euros – Witnesses sought
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.