Police arrest two suspects in Bauska jewellery store robbery

Latvia’s State Police have arrested two of three people suspected of robbing a jewellery store in Bauska after a chase in Jelgava, LSM reports, citing the police.

The robbery was reported on September 10, when three men stole jewellery worth EUR 22,500 from the store. Police quickly identified the suspects, who had previously come to their attention over similar crimes.

Police said the group had been involved in jewellery store robberies across Latvia for a long time.

On September 17, officers from the State Police Special Tasks Battalion spotted a Honda on the A8 road towards Jelgava. The vehicle was believed to be carrying the wanted suspects.

The driver ignored orders to stop and fled into Jelgava, continuing along Miera Street. After turning onto Zemeņu Street, the vehicle reached a dead end. The passenger jumped from the moving car and tried to escape.

Officers arrested the driver, a man born in 1992, at the scene. They caught the passenger, a man born in 1994, after firing several warning shots into the air.

On September 18, a court ordered the 1994-born man to be held in custody. The other suspect was already subject to a court order for detention.

The third suspect remains actively wanted.

Police have opened criminal proceedings under Section 175, Part Four of Latvia’s Criminal Law, concerning theft committed by an organised group.