Elderly man reports jewelry theft after being tricked at Arequipa polling station

An elderly man has reported the theft of his necklace after falling victim to a deception inside a voting center in Arequipa, Peru, during the second round of the 2026 General Elections. The incident occurred Sunday morning at the Independencia Americana school.

According to preliminary police reports, the man arrived at the polling station around 10:30 a.m. to cast his vote. While waiting for his turn, another individual approached him, claiming there was a coffee-colored stain on his shirt. The stranger offered to help clean it, persuading the victim to go to a bathroom sink within the school.

While the elderly man removed his shirt and necklace to clean it, the suspect allegedly stole the jewelry and left the premises without raising suspicion. The victim realized the necklace was missing several minutes later and reported the theft to police and election officials present at the site.

Family members stated that election officials (ONPE) indicated a security protocol, including temporarily closing access to the school, could have been activated if the incident had been reported immediately. This response reportedly caused distress to the victim and his wife, who felt they did not receive an immediate solution. Authorities are reviewing security camera footage from the polling station to identify the perpetrator and determine how they managed to leave unnoticed amidst the steady flow of voters.