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Several Estonian prostitutes robbed in Helsinki
- In the past month a number of Estonian prostitutes have been robbed in Helsinki. Among the stolen items were jewellery and cash. The police are holding three Finnish men and have confiscated weapons from them. Now the police are waiting for crime reports from the prostitutes, who have yet to file them.
- Inspector Seppo Sillanpää of the Helsinki Police Department says that the incidents currently under investigation are unequivocally worthy of taking to trial, and fill the description of armed robbery. “The robbery victims do not have to fear reporting the crimes, as prostitution is not illegal in Finland. Stolen jewels connected to the investigation will be returned.”
- “The investigation is only in its initial phase and the men may be remanded in custody within the next few days. It seems as though numerous robberies have been committed as great quantities of jewellery have been found during searches of several apartments. It is also possible that the thieves have also been to other cities besides Helsinki”, says Sillanpää.
- An anonymous tip-off led the police to begin their enquiries. Robberies have most likely been conducted since as early as November. They all seem to follow the same pattern. A Finnish man calls the number advertised in the paper and gets the address and instructions on how to enter the apartment. He goes in with two other men. They are usually armed with a shotgun and possibly handguns. The woman or women are forced to lay face down on the bed. One of the men holds the weapon to her neck while the other takes off her jewellery. The others check the apartment and take any money and mobile phones that might be found.
- A similar case emerged last summer, though not involving firearms. On this occasion the criminals came from Tallinn in Estonia. All except one was apprehended, and the others have all been sentenced.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 8.3.2000
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