Two men were arrested yesterday in the vicinity of Höfn, Hornafjörður, in connection with a recent theft from a handicraft store in Blönduós, mbl.is reports.
They are also suspected of being responsible for similar thefts from stores in Sauðárkrókur and Eskifjörður. Yet another case from Akureyri is being investigated where they may have been involved.
The younger one, reportedly armed with his personal charm, distracted female shopkeepers so that either he or his accomplice could empty the cash register. The first robbery took place Saturday in Húnabúð in Blönduós where, in addition to cash from the register, valuables from the shopkeeper’s wallet were stolen. (It is unclear whether his skill at stealing women’s hearts gradually evolved into stealing their possession as well.)
Apparently, their next target was in Sauðárkrókur. Yesterday, it was reported that one man had used a similar trick in the Samkaup store in Eskifjörður. His description matched that of one of the men involved in the other incidents. According to Assistant Chief Jónas Vilhelmsson, whose East Iceland District is in charge of the investigation, police just missed the men in Eskifjörður, but had sufficient information to recognize them and their vehicle. As a result, their car was stopped in Höfn and the men apprehended.
The suspects were born in 1972 and 1993.
