Couple Charged for 'Freeloader Tour' – Defrauded Multiple Hotels

A couple is suspected of traveling through Sweden, staying at numerous hotels without paying for accommodation or meals. They are now charged with twelve counts of fraud and vandalism for their 'freeloader tour'.

The man and woman charged for the 'freeloader tour', as the police call it, are 35 and 39 years old, respectively.

According to the prosecutor, the couple made it a habit to check into hotels, dine, and then leave the bill unpaid.

They informed the hotels, hostels, and campsites they stayed at that they were in urgent need of accommodation due to a water leak in their home, and that the costs would be billed to various property companies – with which they had no connection.

Destroyed Armchair

The frauds reportedly occurred during two intense periods. In April, the couple began their hotel tour under false names, with stops in places like Eskilstuna, Borlänge, and Mora, reports Smålandsposten.

At the hotel in Mora, two armchairs worth approximately 20,000 kronor were also destroyed.

In June, the couple continued their journey, with overnight stays in Trosa, Skövde, Skara, Jönköping, and Växjö – where their crime spree came to an abrupt end.

On their last attempt, at the Stadshotellet in Växjö, the scam was uncovered and the police were alerted, writes Smålandsposten.

Couple Charged

The couple was arrested on-site on June 30 and detained for over a month.

The police have secured images from surveillance cameras and found the couple's notebook with details of their travels and hotel stays.

– It has been surprisingly easy for the couple to carry out these frauds, says prosecutor Marcus Sjöstrand to the newspaper.

Now the police investigation is complete, and the couple is charged with twelve frauds and vandalism, according to the police.

The man has admitted to most of the frauds in police interviews. The woman acknowledges the events but denies the crime.