From Iceland — Daring Jewelry Store Robbery Committed

Daring Jewelry Store Robbery Committed

Published August 4, 2015

Andie Sophia Fontaine
Photo by
Shadowgate/Wikimedia Commons

A thief made off with millions in jewelry early yesterday morning from a small store in a Hafnarfjörður shopping centre. A security guard reportedly turned off the alarm shortly before the robbery was committed.

Managing director of the Fjörður shopping centre Guðmundur Bjarni Harðarson believes the robbery was the work of a professional, RÚV reports, although they did receive some help in the matter, however serendipitously.

According to Guðmundur, a security guard arrived at Fjörður at about 5:30 yesterday morning, after receiving a call about an open door at the centre. The guard reportedly checked out the situation, turned the alarm system off, and did not turn it on again when he left.

At about 6:30, the thief attempted to break in on the ground floor, without luck, but they found another way in on the second floor. Upon reaching the jewelry store, the thief chose a side window that was covered in plastic film, thereby preventing broken glass from scattering to the ground after breaking it. Once inside, the thief went directly for the most expensive items in the store.

Due to the disabled alarm system, while the security bell went off once the thief got into the store, no call was made to security or other authorities about the break-in in progress. In fact, even though the security guard returned at 7:00, the store’s robbery was not noticed until 9:00.

There are as yet no suspects in custody, but capital area police did post security camera footage of parts of the robbery, in the hopes that someone can identify the thief. As can be seen, the thief does not appear to be in any hurry, and in fact takes his time going through tray after tray of valuables.

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