Knife attack at Tartu Lõunakeskus: 23-year-old robber apprehended with dog handler's assistance
A 23-year-old man attacked a 64-year-old with a knife near cash machines at Tartu Lõunakeskus shopping centre. The suspect was found nearby in bushes with the help of a service dog.
Knife attack at Lõunakeskus: police catch robber in minutes
According to Õhtuleht, a 23-year-old man attacked a 64-year-old with a knife on Thursday, 22 October, at approximately 18:53 near the cash machines at Tartu Lõunakeskus shopping centre. The victim sustained a knife wound and was taken to hospital, where the wound was stitched and the man was subsequently released for home care.
The emergency centre received a highest-priority call at 18:53 regarding an attempted robbery in which a person was injured. By the time police arrived, the attacker had already left the shopping centre.
Initial aid was provided to the victim by a shopping centre visitor, and was subsequently taken over by emergency services personnel.
Service dog picks up the trail
Tartu district police chief Lauri Lillo described how the armed robbery was responded to with significant resources — in addition to patrols, rapid response officers and a dog handler with a service dog were deployed.
"We immediately set to work on the hot trail to apprehend the dangerous criminal. We established that the man ran out of the building, so we began searching the area around the shopping centre. The service dog picked up the trail and a few minutes later the man was found in bushes near Lõunakeskus," said Lillo.
Since the robber had also been injured, police officers first provided lifesaving aid and called for emergency services. The 23-year-old man was then taken to hospital and subsequently to Tartu prison for detention.
Earlier attempt went unreported
Lillo explained that approximately an hour before the knife attack, the same man had attempted to snatch money from a customer making a deposit at a cash machine, but the attempt failed and the man left. This incident was not reported to police.
"Unfortunately, the police were not immediately notified of this incident. Consequently, the 23-year-old was able to return to the shopping centre and make another robbery attempt, during which both the victim and the suspect were injured," said the district chief.
Based on information gathered so far, the robber and victim were not previously acquainted with one another — the victim had been randomly selected. The 23-year-old is known to police for various criminal offences, but these have not been related to crimes of violence.
Prosecutor seeks detention
A criminal investigation was launched into the incident under the robbery statute. The case is being handled by the Southern Circuit Prosecutor's Office.
Southern Circuit Prosecutor Priit Tõnisson emphasised the seriousness of the case: "No sum of money justifies putting another person's life or health at risk. When violence is used or one is prepared to use violence to obtain property, the damage inflicted on the victim can be irreversible. The prosecutor is requesting that the court remand the suspect in custody for an initial period of two months."
For his part, Lillo emphasised that such incidents must always be reported to police immediately at number 112, to enable rapid response and prevent possible further crimes.
Source: Õhtuleht