Gold-shop robber in Paris caught after shoot-out with police at Metro station
PUBLISHED : Monday, 21 July, 2014, 4:51am
UPDATED : Monday, 21 July, 2014, 6:52am
Agence France-Presse in Paris
Police officers stand outside the Grands Boulevards Metro station in Paris, where the suspect of a failed armed robbery fled and gunshots were exchanged. Photo: AFP
A robber smashed into a rare-coin dealership in central Paris, made off with two trays of gold pieces and then staged a shoot-out in a crowded Metro station before being wounded and arrested by police.
Coin dealer Claude Burgan said he had been opening his shop after lunch on Saturday when he was shoved to the ground and hit in the head by a thief who pushed his way in.
Burgan said he managed to lock the thief in the boutique.
"To escape he had to shoot at least twice into the glass window. He left with two trays of gold pieces worth about €100,000 [HK$1.05 million]," Burgan said outside the boutique.
The thief then fled into the nearby Grands Boulevards Metro station in a crowded, tourist-heavy area, where police noticed him and began their pursuit, leading to an exchange of fire.
"The criminal took out his gun in the train," said a witness who said he heard at least 20 shots during the exchange with police.
Police said the man was apprehended after being hit in the arm during the shoot-out. A spokesman said he was not in critical condition.
The suspect was already known to law enforcement for prior armed robberies, he said.
