An Algerian national who came to France for medical treatment has been arrested and taken into custody after being linked to a series of violent robberies targeting elderly individuals in the southern coastal town of Hyères.
The man, in France to receive specialized care for burns sustained in his home country, allegedly robbed three people at knifepoint in recent days.
As reported by France Bleu, the 35-year-old suspect admitted to attacking three elderly victims, aged between 65 and 75, to steal their handbags.
One of the incidents involved a retired teacher near Maintenon High School, sparking heightened concerns among local parents. The school’s administration urged families to remain vigilant after the attack.
Using city CCTV footage, investigators from the Hyères police station identified the suspect and issued a detailed description, leading to his arrest by the Anti-Crime Brigade (BAC) in the early hours of Wednesday. Authorities had been searching for the man following a spike in knife-related robberies in the city center last week.
The man had been dividing his time between Marseille and Hyères, where he rented an apartment to facilitate treatment at the Léon-Bérard Institute. Initially in France for compassionate medical care, he is now accused of betraying the country’s hospitality by committing violent crimes.
The robberies have unsettled the community in Hyères and reignited the debate on immigration and public safety in France.
The suspect was held in extended police custody and was set to face trial on Friday before the Toulon criminal court. Further details of the trial have not yet been released.
