12-year-old suspected of armed robbery

4 March 2008

ROTTERDAM – Police arrested five people on Monday in connection with a series of armed robberies in Rotterdam. One of the suspects is a 12-year-old boy from the city.

The police think the child committed an armed robbery in the Katendrecht neighbourhood on 23 January along with a 15-year-old, a spokesperson said.

The robbery caused a great commotion and led to a visit from mayor Ivo Opstelten.

On Monday morning two Rotterdam residents aged 19 and 23 and a Dordrecht resident aged 22 were arrested. One of them was carrying a firearm. The three were reportedly on the verge of robbing a supermarket in Rotterdam-Zuid.

Rotterdam has been plagued by a wave of armed robberies of supermarkets and businesses recently.

On Saturday afternoon officers arrested a 29-year-old man from Klimmen (Limburg) shortly after the armed robbery of a jewellery shop on the West-Kruiskade.

A police spokesperson said that the arrests and police actions have dealt a significant blow to armed robbers in the city.