In a statement on Monday, police called the crime “a theft of dreams”, saying the man forced open the door of an apartment block, before taking the presents a couple had placed under the Christmas tree for their son.
As well as the presents, the man allegedly stole gold jewellery from the bedroom of the apartment, two computer tablets and a laptop.
He was stopped by police at a control point this weekend after suspicions were raised by the tablets and computer in his car, for which he could not provide a convincing explanation.
He was taken into police custody, and further vehicle searches revealed gold jewellery concealed behind the air filter, along with a variety of tools for breaking and entering.
The owners of the stolen computers and jewellery were tracked down and reunited with their property, and police said it emerged that the man had entered the flat just an hour before he was stopped by police.
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