Colombian conman arrested after hotel heist

ONE of the world’s most wanted men, a Colombian conman who absconded from a prison in Britain, was arrested in Dublin yesterday.

Juan Carlos Guzman-Betancourt, 29, who has conned his way into hotel rooms around the world, went on the run from an open prison in Britain earlier this month. He was being hunted by gardaí in Dublin following a burglary at the Merrion Hotel last week, in which jewellery, credit cards and tens of thousands of euro were taken.

A garda spokesman confirmed Guzman-Betancourt was arrested in Dublin city centre yesterday in connection with the burglary at the five-star hotel.

He checked into the Merrion Hotel last week at 9.30am and within an hour had made off with the jewellery, credit cards and stolen money. From there he went to Grafton Street where in less than an hour he bought €100,000 worth of jewellery and other goods using the stolen card.

He has been detained at Harcourt Terrace Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and can be held for up to 12 hours.

Numerous shops in Grafton Street have been asked for CCTV footage to show Guzman-Betancourt using the stolen credit card from the Merrion Hotel to buy expensive goods.

Guzman-Betancourt, who modelled himself partly on Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in Catch Me If You Can, was jailed earlier this year for three-and-a-half years for targeting hotels in Britain. He went on the run after absconding from Standford Hill open prison on the Isle of Sheppey on June 6.

The Colombian, who reportedly compares himself with fictional gentleman jewel thief Raffles, is an expert linguist who used his wit, charm, good looks and a collection of designer suits, to hijack the identities of wealthy guests.

He conned staff into letting him into rooms and opening safes at top hotels in Britain, where he stole at least €225,000 of jewellery, cash and valuables, his trial in London heard.

He is also believed to have struck in Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico, and his worldwide crime spree is thought to have netted him as much as €750,000.