Two suspected burglars were apprehended in Mechelen on Sunday evening after a major search operation by the Rivierenland local police, with the support of the Neighbourhood Information Network (BIN).
The incident began when a resident on Wijngaardstraat caught two burglars in the act. The intruders had forced open the back door to gain entry but fled after stealing cash and jewellery. The homeowner pursued the pair while police rushed to the scene.
A perimeter was immediately set up, and officers launched a search using drones and sniffer dogs. A short while later, two men matching the suspects’ descriptions were found near the railway embankment next to the cycling highway between Geerdegem-Schonenberg and Brusselsesteenweg. Both had cash and jewellery on them.
The suspects, aged 24 and 25, are undocumented individuals already known to police for similar offences. They have since been brought before an investigating judge and remain in custody. The stolen money and jewellery have been confiscated.
Police commended the involvement of the Neighbourhood Information Network (BIN) in the search. Residents in the immediate area were provided with descriptions of the suspects and their direction of flight. Authorities emphasised that rapid information-sharing heightens local vigilance and may yield additional details that assist police operations.
