Masked thieves stole merchandise worth up to 1.5 million Norwegian kroner from Romerikssenteret shopping center on Kløfta overnight. Police confirmed the major theft occurred through the shopping center's roof.
The burglars targeted the Skin Tonic perfume store during the overnight operation. This marks the second major theft at the same shopping center in recent months, with a similar incident occurring in September.
Shopping center manager Siri Heimlund confirmed both thefts to local media but declined to speculate about potential connections between the two incidents. She emphasized that her immediate focus remains reopening the affected store for business.
Heimlund told reporters she cannot confirm the exact value of stolen goods at this time. The shopping center management is working closely with police to secure video footage and photographic evidence from the burglary.
This pattern of shopping center thefts raises concerns about retail security across the Oslo region. Romerikssenteret represents one of several commercial centers experiencing increased break-in activity in recent months. The September incident involved thieves attempting to target a jewelry store but accidentally breaking into a bookstore instead after miscalculating their entry point.
Norwegian shopping centers typically implement comprehensive security measures, but these repeated breaches suggest criminals are developing sophisticated methods to bypass existing protections. The consistent use of roof access points indicates a specific vulnerability that retail security experts will need to address.
For international readers, Norway generally experiences relatively low property crime rates compared to other European nations. However, organized retail theft has emerged as a growing concern in recent years. The 1.5 million kroner figure translates to approximately $140,000 USD, representing a substantial loss for any single retailer.
Local business owners now face increased insurance premiums and security costs following these repeated incidents. The psychological impact on both employees and customers cannot be underestimated, as such brazen thefts undermine feelings of safety in commercial spaces.
Police investigations continue while shopping center management reviews and upgrades security protocols. The repeated nature of these thefts at the same location suggests either security vulnerabilities remain unaddressed or the same criminal group continues targeting this specific center.
Norwegian authorities typically deploy significant resources to investigate high-value commercial thefts. The country's organized crime units often collaborate with international law enforcement when tracking stolen luxury goods across borders.