A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft at Antwerp prison, where he worked as a guard, reports the Gazet van Antwerpen.
According to Gazet van Antwerpen, the prison guard was caught red-handed and has himself been detained in prison. The Antwerp public prosecutor’s office confirmed the news on Friday.
A complaint had been filed with the prison management regarding the theft of inmates’ clothing.
"Expensive designer clothes had been disappearing for some time. Given the manner and location of the thefts, only a staff member could be responsible. An investigation was launched following this complaint," said Kato Belmans, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office.
In response, the prison increased its security checks as the thefts continued to rise. A prison guard was eventually identified as a suspect.
The man was arraigned before a judge and was arrested on suspicion of theft and gang-related offences. He has been detained in a different prison from the one where he worked and allegedly committed the offences.
The number of victims and the total value of the stolen items are still under investigation.
