Robbers in Police Uniform Invade Hotels and Loot Guests

On October 10, at 4:40 AM, a call was received at the Police Operational Management Center regarding masked individuals entering different rooms at a hotel located on K'eru Street in Yerevan, where foreign citizens are temporarily residing.

According to David Babinyan, a senior officer of the Criminal Police, the operatives of the Police's Yerevan division rushed to the scene. “We learned that around 4:20 AM, unknown individuals dressed in police uniforms and masks entered various rooms of the hotel, threatened some with firearms, tied others up, and made off with mobile phones, money, and fled the scene,” Babinyan stated.

A criminal case was initiated in the Arabkir administrative district investigating the incident as a robbery with illegal entry.

Officers from the Department for Combating Property Crimes of the Yerevan Police discovered four mobile phones, a pneumatic pistol, masks, and gloves in the vicinity of the scene.

“We assumed that the culprits intentionally discarded the masks and gloves while fleeing, and that some of the stolen mobile phones and the pistol fell under circumstances beyond their control, as the escape route had a steep descent,” Babinyan elaborated.

Further operational and investigative measures were undertaken in collaboration with the officers of the Main Division of the Criminal Police. It was revealed that one of the nine suspects involved in the robbery is a 41-year-old resident of Frik Street in the capital, while the others are foreigners.

Thanks to joint efforts, the Yerevan resident was apprehended on the evening of October 10. The next morning, two additional foreign accomplices, both aged 38, were also arrested.

“In order to locate the other foreign suspects, we collaborated with the officers of the Criminal Police of the Syunik Regional Division. On October 11, around 6:30 AM, four of them were found at the Meghri checkpoint. Efforts are ongoing to locate two other individuals involved in the crime,” Babinyan detailed.

The arrested individuals were presented to the investigative body. During searches, items identified as stolen—including tablets, mobile phones, and cash—were discovered.

Measures are being taken to clarify all circumstances surrounding the incident.