2023-11-06 16:31:00
It was 5:30 a.m. last Friday when Patrick De Smet (62) experienced the inexplicable. A robbery of incredible violence occurred in his bookstore in Wemmel, located on avenue Docteur H. Follet. “It was early in the morning. I hadn’t even had time to turn on the lights yet,” says the bookseller, his face still marked by the multiple blows he received.
At dawn that day, two men with covered faces burst into the store on the outskirts of Brussels, armed with (visibly fake) pistols and pliers. “They wanted the safe, which I don’t have. They started hitting me.” During these three interminable minutes, the blows followed one following the other on the victim on the ground, as evidenced by the unbearable video surveillance images.
Luckily, a customer arrived at that moment. Out of fear, the robbers fled on mopeds. Their loot: three packs of cigarettes. “So many blows for nothing. Incredible,” sighs the Wemmel resident.
“Vilvoorde under the influence of a gang of robbers”: 3rd robbery in 2 weeks
After the attack, Patrick had to go to the hospital. “I had been hit so many times with big pliers. I had a hole in my head and pain everywhere.” As soon as the few staples were placed on the wound, the independent took over business directly, just a few hours following the attack. “Lots of things to do here…” According to the latest news, the criminals have not yet been arrested by the authorities.
After aggressive exchanges with young people, Wemmel institutes identity checks around the town hall: “people have been warned”
“More and more violent”
“I hope you feel better. It’s incomprehensible,” sighs a lady while buying a magazine. This Monday, customers parade at the Ducrat bookstore. It must be said that commerce, present for three decades, is an institution in the small town with facilities.
This robbery is not the first. “It was the fifth time. It’s getting more and more violent.” Behind the counter, Christine, his wife, is still in shock too. “They ask for the safe but there is nothing to steal here, especially at this time of the morning. 80% of payments are made by card.”
A security problem in Wemmel? The independent refuses any generalization. “I’ve never had a problem except for those few times. It can happen anywhere. Five times in thirty years, it’s still good…” laughs the Wemmelois, who refuses to let himself be defeated and abandon his sense of humor. “They’re little idiots who do this. I find it stupid.”
Two paving stones in the facade of his store: “Wemmel is becoming Molenbeek”
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