ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Thieves who stole more than $2.5 million worth of gold and cash from a Soran shop in early March have been arrested in Erbil, Kurdistan Region’s interior ministry announced on Friday.
“Following the formation of an inquiry committee by the interior ministry … and intense investigation on the case, fortunately the convicts were arrested in Erbil in a joint operation with Erbil Asayesh (security) forces,” read a statement by the interior ministry.
The robbers made off with 38 kilograms of gold and $300,000 in cash on March 6. They used household drills and jackhammers to tunnel underground and reach the gold shop's vault, breaking through the shop safe's meter-thick concrete and steel shelling.
The stolen cash and gold have been recovered, the ministry revealed.
Some of the equipment used for the burglary has also been confiscated.
The ministry did not reveal the number of the perpetrators but said it will reveal more details once the investigation has been conducted.
Kaify Dargalayi, the shop’s owner, warned businesses to be cautious following the heist.
”People who work in this town have to be afraid. It will happen again if the robbers are not revealed,” he said after the incident.
