Former crime reporter arrested for armed robberies

A former crime reporter for the Nouvelle République newspaper in France has been arrested for doing what he used to write about: armed robbery.

Police in the central town of Blois arrested the 63-year old on Friday after he robbed a department store GEMO. It was the second time he targeted the store. Police said he threatened a salesperson with a large black revolver “like Clint Eastwood”.

Officers had been keeping watch after the retired journalist robbed five shops over the past four months. He would disguise his face with a fake mustache, a wig, and wear gloves. Police said he would wait until closing time to threaten staff and order them to empty the cash register.
Police said he stole around 9,000 euros in total and deposited the booty in his personal bank account shortly after each heist. The man reportedly told police he turned to armed robberies after coming out of a difficult divorce and struggling financially to support his son’s studies.