The Ljubljana police arrested two armed petrol station robbers Monday night after a car chase through the city that resulted in a car crash, after which the pair tried to escape on foot. With the help of a passer-by and a security guard at the Ljubljana train station, they were apprehended less than half an hour after the robbery.
The men, Bosnian citizens aged 25 and 36, robbed a petrol station along Celovška street around 7pm, the head of the Ljubljana criminal police Damjan Petrič told the press on Tuesday.
Threatening the staff with handguns, they stole some EUR 8,000 in cash. Their escape was observed by a passer-by, who told the police which way they escaped and provided information about the car they had been driving.
Using this information, the police soon found them and tried to stop the vehicle using blue lights and sirens. The driver, instead, made a reckless escape toward Ljubljana city centre.
Driving down the Dunajska street, the driver crashed into another car while changing lanes. As they tried to make a left turn onto Vilharjeva street, the pair crashed into another car.
Luckily nobody was hurt in the two crashes, but the robbers’ vehicle was badly damaged and they tried to make an escape on foot running in the direction of the Ljubljana train station across a parking lot, ignoring police orders to stop.
Then, one of the robbers stopped and reached into a bag he was carrying, at which point one of the police officers fired a warning shot and the robber lay on the ground. The police apprehended him and seized his gun and ammunition.
The second robber continued running toward the rail tracks, where he also turned to face the police, reaching toward his waist, and the police fired a second warning shot.
The robber continued to run, crossing the railway tracks. When he reached the train station, he was apprehended by the police and a station security guard.
The pair will be charged with robbery and assaulting an officer, while the 36-year will also be charged with reckless driving.