Still on the run

Robbers in Italy took sales clerks hostage

Six masked men robbed a jeweler in Marcon near Venice (symbolic image).(Bild: stock.adobe.com/fotografci )

Six masked men have robbed a jewelry store in Marcon near Venice. They temporarily took two sales clerks hostage. The two women were unharmed and the search for the robbers is still ongoing.

On Wednesday evening at around 7 pm, the shopping center was still full of customers. They described dramatic moments. "The perpetrators shouted to us that a robbery was in progress and that we should run away," said one witness. Frightened customers then ran screaming to the exits and tried to protect their children.

Armed with Kalashnikovs
The robbers were armed with Kalashnikovs and targeted a jewelry store where two young saleswomen were working. While one perpetrator threatened one of them, the others forced the second employee to empty the display cases and stuff jewelry and other valuables into bags.

The robbers then tried to drag a sales clerk along as a hostage. However, she resisted with all her might, cried and begged the men to release her. The gang then took the other employee and fled with her to a car where an accomplice was waiting. After the robbers had conceded the loot, however, they released the woman. Both sales clerks were unharmed in the incident.

Searches throughout Venice
The Carabinieri first searched all the stores in the shopping center to make sure that there were no more perpetrators inside. Searches and checks were then carried out throughout the Venice area, which have so far yielded no results. The vehicle was found abandoned not far away. Apparently the escape was continued in another vehicle. The value of the loot could amount to several hundred thousand euros.