Three Serbs Charged with Robbery in the Old Town Watch Store
Three individuals of Serbian nationality have been charged with organized robbery involving violence in a watch shop in Vecrīga, Latvia.
The prosecution has asserted that three individuals have been charged with the crime of large-scale theft of foreign movable property committed by an organized group, which involved the use of violence and threats. Two of these individuals have also been charged with intentional destruction and damage to foreign property. The Latvian National Police have separated a criminal process against another individual who was not detained in Finland, and ongoing investigation work is being pursued, including the search for a vehicle and its possible route following the robbery, especially in Riga areas lacking surveillance cameras.
The prosecution disclosed that the foreigners had been legally staying in Latvia as tourists. As for the stolen watches, the prosecution currently has no information about their whereabouts. On April 29, 2025, a group of people organized the robbery in Vecrīga, threatening the store staff with an object resembling a firearm, and managed to steal approximately 80 exclusive wristwatches valued at around 690,000 euros. This troubling incident underscores concerns about tourist safety and criminal activity in popular areas of Riga, prompting police to enhance surveillance.
In context, the high-value nature of the stolen items and the violent method employed in the robbery raise alarm about organized crime operations within Latvia, particularly pointing towards a potentially larger gang network involved in targeting high-value retail shops. This case is emblematic of the challenges faced by law enforcement in cities with vibrant tourism sectors, as they work to balance the economic incentives of tourism with ensuring public safety and security during such visits.