Police are investigating a series of overnight break-ins that targeted six businesses in the Vestkanten area. The incidents occurred during the early hours of Saturday morning, with thieves forcing entry into multiple establishments.
Operation manager Knut Dahl-Michelsen confirmed authorities are conducting forensic investigations at the scene. "We are on location to perform crime scene examination and get an overview of what was stolen," officials stated. "It appears the perpetrator entered four different stores."
Surveillance footage captured one individual inside a flower shop around 2 AM. Store owners reported significant damage and stolen property throughout the affected businesses.
Lars Jørgen Aadnekvam, owner of Blomsterforum flower shop, described the violation. "They broke down the door to the back room and stole cash," he explained. The thieves targeted both cash registers and safes during their spree.
At clothing store Hans H. Iversen, employee Simen Jacobsen arrived to find chaos. "There was mess and clothes all over the floor when I came to the shop around 9:50 AM," Jacobsen recalled. "I don't know if they took anything, but it feels disgusting that such people have gotten in here."
The burglars employed creative methods to access secured areas. At Sabrura restaurant, owner Kaj Kvinge reported thieves used knives stolen from the nearby Starbucks to break open their safe. "Our safe was broken into, and the cash register with about 2000 kroner is gone," Kvinge confirmed.
Six businesses suffered direct break-ins: Hans H. Iversen, Sabrura, Starbucks, Kjøkken og kaffe, Blomsterforum, and Narvesen. While Narvesen kiosk avoided actual entry, thieves damaged the lock so severely that employee Mary Christophersen couldn't open the store for business and required security assistance.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges small businesses face regarding security in urban commercial districts. Store owners must now contend with repair costs, stolen inventory, and the psychological impact of violated premises. Police continue gathering evidence and reviewing surveillance footage to identify suspects.
Commercial burglaries remain a persistent issue in Norwegian cities, particularly affecting family-owned businesses with limited security budgets. The coordinated nature of these break-ins across multiple adjacent stores suggests organized criminal activity rather than opportunistic theft. Business owners in the area are likely to reassess their security measures following this incident.
Norwegian police typically deploy forensic teams to commercial burglaries, but solving such cases remains challenging without clear suspect identification. The financial impact on small businesses can be substantial, with many lacking comprehensive insurance coverage for such events.