A 35-year-old man was arrested for allegedly stealing vegetables from a community garden in Décines-Charpieu, France, last Friday, according to local media. However, the man is also wanted in Belgium for theft and murder.
The vegetable garden had been repeatedly hit by a thief in recent weeks. Eventually, vigilant gardeners caught the suspect red-handed, who was then apprehended by the police.
Investigations later revealed the man was wanted by Belgian authorities for the murder of Norris Georgette van den Bogaerde (90). The victim was found unconscious in her home in Ghent on 27 June 2019. Her home had been ransacked, and a gold bracelet was missing, suggesting a violent burglary had taken place.
A European Arrest Warrant had been issued for the suspect, who appears to have been living irregularly in France for the past two years. Currently detained at Corbas prison, he is set to appear before the French courts this Thursday. This could lead to his extradition to Belgium, according to French newspapers.
The Belgian Foreign Office has confirmed to the Belga News Agency its awareness of the case, adding that the individual in question is not a Belgian citizen.
