Police arrested two people suspected of carrying out a home invasion in Schaerbeek last month through a dating app.
As was the case in the fatal Ixelles home invasion in August, the fake date arranged via a dating app is again thought to be at the root of burglary.
The Brussels North Police Zone (covering Schaerbeek, Evere and Saint-Josse-ten-Node) received a call in mid-September from a person who was reportedly the victim of a forced robbery, commonly known as home invasion, in the Optimism neighbourhood in Schaerbeek.
"The victim had been talking to a man on a dating application, and had proposed to meet at his/her home," the police said in a statement on Wednesday.
However, two individuals wearing balaclavas turned up at the residence instead. "After threatening the victim with a weapon, they allegedly entered the residence. The two suspects reportedly gave the victim many blows and stole the victim's bank card, as well as SIM card."
'Be vigilant'
The police zone in question immediately launched an investigation and found that the weapon used was fake. "However it did very closely resemble a real weapon."
Officers also identified two suspects, and on 10 October, conducted two searches at the homes of the suspects.
Both were deprived of their liberty and confessed to the offences after being questioned by an investigating judge, who placed them under an arrest warrant for theft by force and threatening, in a gang and at night, with a weapon.
This marks the second home invasion involving a set-up via a dating app in just three months. At the end of August, a man (57) was shot dead and his wife (57) and son (22) suffered gunshot wounds during a home invasion in the Brussels municipality of Ixelles.
The son had reportedly arranged a date via Grindr, primarily used by gay men, but had instead been lured into a trap by criminals who find their victims through the app.
Following this initial incident, Grindr put out a statement warning people of homophobic violence in the region. On Wednesday, the Brussels North police and the Brussels Prosecutor's Office urged anyone using dating apps or other meeting platforms to be vigilant.
"Don't simply give your home address to a stranger. It is often more prudent to organise a (first) meeting in a public place," they said.
