After a million-dollar robbery with sledgehammers in a Hamburg jewelry store, the police are looking for witnesses. Three masked men had attacked the shop in downtown Hamburg early Tuesday evening, the police said. While one of them threatened a seller with a gun, the other two smashed showcases with sledgehammers and stole high-quality watches in particular. According to dpa information, the value of the loot is around two million euros.
A second seller managed to withdraw at the beginning of the robbery and alert the police. Despite an immediate search, the perpetrators were initially able to escape. More than a dozen patrol cars and a police dog were involved in the operation, a police spokesman said.
After initial investigations, the robbers then fled via ABC-Strasse and Fuhlentwiete in the direction of Axel-Springer-Platz. At times they may have used e-scooters, it said. A track also led to the Stadthausbrücke S-Bahn station, but got lost there.
Two e-scooters and black gloves, which the perpetrators were probably wearing, were secured, the police said. After about three and a half hours of the search, which went “without any particular results”, the search for the perpetrators was initially ended.
According to police, the robber with the gun was described as slim and dark-colored. He is said to have been wearing a black hat and a dark down jacket. His two accomplices were said to be wearing black down jackets and were described as very slim.
Witnesses who can provide information about the perpetrators or who have made suspicious observations have been asked to contact the police. The robbery department at the State Criminal Police Office has taken over the investigation.
On the other hand, the police were more successful in resolving two robberies at petrol stations in Steilshoop, which took place at the beginning of December. The police officers now noticed three male people who were in the area of the Shell gas station on Steilshooper Allee.
After two customers left the sales room on Tuesday, the three suspects masked themselves and suddenly ran into the sales room of the gas station. A customer who was still present was able to flee to the customer toilet and lock himself in there. While the suspects threatened the employee with a gun, they went behind the sales counter, grabbed the change cassette and various cigarette packs and stowed everything in the plastic bags they had brought with them. When the suspects left the gas station, two suspects, 15-year-old Iraqis, were immediately arrested by the civilian investigators. The third suspect initially managed to escape. Investigations also revealed the fugitive suspect, a 16-year-old Syrian. He could be arrested.
After the crime, the permanent criminal service took over the investigations, which are now being continued by the responsible State Criminal Police Office (LKA 144). It is being checked whether the crimes from the beginning of December can be attributed to the suspects. They were brought before the magistrate.
