Conman held over Dublin hotel theft

A notorious international conman suspected of stealing cash and jewellery from a five-star hotel in Dublin last week has been arrested by gardaí.

Juan Carlos Guzman-Betancourt (29), who absconded from Standford Hill open prison in England on June 6th, is being questioned after a theft at the Merrion Hotel.

The items stolen included a credit card which was used to buy items worth up to €100,000 in Dublin city stores.

Gardaí had warned the hospitality industry to be on the alert, and mounted checks at ports and airports to stop any possible escape.

Guzman-Betancourt, who was jailed for three years in April, carried out raids on some of the world's most glamorous hotels. He was arrested yesterday afternoon in Dublin city centre for questioning about the Merrion Hotel robbery.

The Colombian conman, who is also known by the name Gonzalo Zapater Vives, is an expert linguist who is believed to use up 10 different aliases.

London's Southwark Crown Court heard earlier this year how his modus operandi of "lost room keys" and "forgotten safe codes" never failed. Once helpful staff had let him in and obligingly unlocked the security box, he pocketed his victim's valuables.

He was being detained last night under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at Harcourt Terrace Garda station and is expected to face charges in court today.

Peter MacCann, general manager of the Merrion Hotel, said he was "delighted" at the news, adding that the hotel had already reviewed its security arrangements.