A Dutchman was arrested for stealing a car, causing property damage and driving without a licence, Public Security Police (PSP) spokesman Kam Ka Kit said at a regular press conference on Monday.
The 41-year-old suspect surnamed Holzmann holds a valid Dutch passport. He told the police that he worked in Macau before as a teacher. His non-resident work permit has expired, according to Kam.
According to Kam, a car owner reported to the police on Thursday that his car which he parked on the previous day in Avenida da Nave Desportiva in Taipa had vanished. Thanks to CCTV footage, PSP officers confirmed that the victim parked his car there on Wednesday evening, and at about 10 p.m. that night the suspect approached the unlocked vehicle and drove it away.
PSP officers confirmed that the suspect went for a drive in Cotai after stealing the vehicle and parked it near Rotunda Dr. Sun Yat Sen in Taipa, where he went to a nearby building. The officers went to the building on Thursday evening and arrested Holzmann who admitted that he stole the car “just for fun”. He told the police that he found the car key in the vehicle and that he had been drinking before driving. Kam said Holzmann had no driving licence.
However, the police were unable to confirm whether the suspect drove under the influence (DUI) as he was arrested one day after the incident.
PSP officers later contacted the car owner who discovered some scratches on the vehicle. Holzmann agreed to pay compensation.
Holzmann was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) on Friday for follow-up investigation, facing charges of vehicle theft, property damage and driving without a licence, according to Kam.
This handout photo provided by the Public Security Police (PSP) on Monday shows a PSP officer escorting the Dutch suspect to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) in Nape on Friday.
