Fake 'police' linked to $250k Istanbul robbery
Four suspects arrested, accused of impersonating police officers to steal thousands from Syrian-run company
İstanbul
ISTANBUL
Istanbul police have arrested three suspects accused of impersonating officers to steal $245,000 from a Syrian-run foreign trade company.
Tuesday’s arrests bring to four the total number of suspects detained over the incident which happened on Saturday in central Istanbul’s Fatih district.
Four people, who introduced themselves as police, entered the company’s offices and proceeded to search staff and premises; phone lines were cut during the robbery, according to sources.
$245,000 was stolen from the firm after the ‘police’ produced firearms, one of which was later revealed to be a toy gun. The robbers then made their escape.
However, police detained one of the suspects a short time after the incident and a further three arrests were made on Tuesday in a house in Istanbul's Avcilar district. Cash, a firearm and ammunition were seized during the operation.
One of the suspects has been released while the others, who have been sent to an Istanbul court, were remanded in custody, police sources added.
There is no statement to confirm if the suspects have been identified as belonging to a proscribed organization.
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