Jewellery theft at Bochum jeweller: Police search for elderly woman and accomplices
A trio stole jewellery worth several tens of thousands of euros from a jeweller's shop on Brückstraße in Bochum. Police are now asking the public for information.
Planned distraction theft in Bochum city centre
A jeweller on Brückstraße in Bochum fell victim to an apparently well-organised theft in which a trio stole jewellery worth several tens of thousands of euros. According to BILD, the robbery was initially noticed by neither the shop assistant nor other people present.
An elderly woman and a young man entered the shop together and took their time looking at the display cases. They showed particular interest in bangles and bracelets. To the shop assistant, the visit initially seemed unremarkable.
Shortly afterwards, a third man appeared in the shop and engaged the jeweller in conversation — thereby deliberately diverting his attention. At that moment, the young man reached into a display cabinet and removed several bangles and bracelets. He then handed over the haul to the elderly woman, who put the jewellery away. Both left the shop without arousing suspicion. The third man followed a few minutes later.
"We assume that he belonged to the two jewellery thieves. He ensured that the jeweller was distracted whilst the couple went for the jewellery," police spokesperson Marcella Nows told BILD.
The jeweller only noticed the jewellery was missing in the evening and subsequently filed a report. The crime occurred on 14 January. Security cameras captured two of the suspected perpetrators, but there are no recordings of the third suspect.
Bochum police have now launched a public manhunt and are asking witnesses to get in touch on telephone numbers 0234 909-8505 or 0234 909-4441.
Source: BILD