The police tracked down a criminal group suspected of robbing at least seven currency exchange facilities and pawn shops in the municipality of Chisinau. The suspects, most of whom have a criminal record, stole safes with money and jewels to an estimated value of over 3.5 million lei, IPN reports.

The General Police Inspectorate said the group includes 12 men aged between 21 and 37 who are from the districts of Comrat and Ceadar-Lunga. Eight of these, including the group leader, were arrested. The other four persons are investigated on the outside. Most of the suspects were earlier tried for drug distribution, robberies and thefts.

The police established that the suspects acted at night. These stole money and jewels in about 40 seconds and disappeared. As a result of the searches, the police seized the stolen goods, mobile phones and receipts from currency exchange facilities as well as masks and balaclavas.

The suspects face 7 to 12 years in jail for robberies.