Jewelry Store Robbery Suspects Appear In Court

Two of the three men suspected of robbing a jewelry store in Hafnarfjörður last October showed up in Reykjanes District Court yesterday morning. One of them admitted he was in the store at the time of the robbery, but denied the criminal charges against him.

Vísir reports that three suspects have a long history with the police behind them. Two of them showed up in Reykjanes District Court today to answer for the charges against them; the third was reportedly ill, and could not show up at the hearing. He will make his appearance next week.

One of the three, who is also accused of firing an air gun at the police while the suspects were being pursued, said that while he did not deny being in the jewelry store at the time the robbery was committed, he denied being a participant in the heist and firing on police. He has been in custody since he was arrested about three months ago.

The other suspect, who is charged with having accepted stolen jewelry as payment for a debt, also denied the charges against him.

As reported, the three are suspected of having entered the store in masks, threatened store employees and engaged in a “smash-and-grab” robbery. They then fled in a vehicle that is believed to have been stolen from a car rental agency.

One suspect was arrested shortly thereafter in Reykjanes. As police closed in, the suspect attempted to flee, and reportedly fired shots from an airgun – both into the sky and at the police. He later discarded the gun as he ran, but was soon overtaken and arrested. A second suspect was arrested not long after with considerably less drama.

While none of the store employees were harmed, the stolen goods have still not been recovered.