In the Riga neighborhood of Mežciems, two thieves with a suitcase committed a theft from a local store. Their haul consisted of dozens of packages of high-quality coffee beans. The criminals could not be apprehended on the spot — the thick fog helped them escape.
In recent days, the "Mego" store in Mežciems experienced a theft, reports the show Degpunktā (TV3). Typically, people illegally entering stores are after alcohol, cigarettes, or cash registers. However, this time the circumstances of the crime indicate a well-thought-out plan — the thieves were after a specific product.
"It was around five in the morning. The thieves were quite well-prepared. They had a suitcase with them, and perhaps they were acting on order, because only expensive coffee beans were taken," said the public relations director of the retail chain, Anna Pančenko.
The unusual nature of the theft was captured by surveillance cameras, but the store does not want to share the footage. Nevertheless, based on the available information, the sequence of events can be reconstructed.
Two hooded individuals broke the store's window and acted as follows: one waited outside while the other with the suitcase rushed inside and collected packages of coffee. Everything was done in a flash — in just two minutes, the suitcase was filled, after which the thieves disappeared without a trace.
"The security arrived quite quickly, but still did not make it in time. The police had been working all morning. We hope for a result. These are not some teenagers who took candy from a store. This looks like a specific order. People came and took only expensive coffee," noted the store representative.
Mainly, products from the brands "Lavazza" and "Dallmayr" were stolen, with one package costing around 25 euros. Neither this store nor other "Mego" stores in Latvia have previously experienced a theft of such magnitude.
Store representatives emphasize that recently the products have significantly increased in price, and perhaps for some underground buyer or the perpetrator's client, this seemed like a good opportunity to make money.
Residents of the area report that it was impossible to see the theft from their windows — that morning the area was shrouded in thick fog. However, police crews testified to what was happening, and one resident was reminded of past times by what he saw.
What exactly the criminals took from the retail point, the store does not comment on. The retail chain is considering strengthening control over the store in Mežciems. For now, a wooden shield has been installed instead of the window, and the store has not ceased operations after the theft.
