Windows had been smashed and shelves overturned in connection with the break-in at OKQ8 in Burträsk on the night of Tuesday, April 9.
As previously reported by Norran, Burträsk has seen a rise in burglaries since the beginning of the year. Skellefteå police have received a total of six reports, one from a resident and the remaining five from local businesses.
The latest incident occurred on the night of Tuesday, April 9, at the OKQ8 gas station. Station manager Ulrika Mellqvist described the scene to Norran, detailing smashed glass windows and knocked-over shelves caused by the thief during the theft of goods.
– It's completely unnecessary, said a frustrated Mellqvist.
–This creates extra cost and a lot of work for absolutely no reason. It's just pointless. I want it to stop.
Like many in Burträsk, Ulrika Mellqvist is fed up with the recent wave of burglaries. She hopes the police will soon apprehend the culprit or culprits.
– We can't keep dealing with this, she said.
– So many break-ins in just one year is unsustainable. It has to stop.
Pär Miller of Skellefteå police agrees that the recent burglaries are a concern.
– In a small town like Burträsk, these incidents are very noticeable, he said.
The stolen goods typically include cash and groceries. While there are some similarities between the burglaries, Miller cautions against certainty.
– At this point, we can't say for sure it's the same culprit in every case.
Following surveillance work on Tuesday, police searched a man's home. He is considered a suspect in the OKQ8 burglary and potentially another.
– He wasn't arrested. There weren't grounds for that yet. However, he was questioned, and he remains a suspect.
No stolen goods were found at the residence, but the police seized evidence for analysis. Investigations into the other burglaries are largely on hold, pending the results of DNA analysis.
Miller urges anyone with information to come forward.
– We're looking for witnesses or anyone who might have heard something related to the recent burglaries in Burträsk. This includes both the gas station incident and any others that have occurred since the beginning of the year. Please contact Skellefteå police if you have any information.
While Skellefteå police hasn't yet dedicated more resources to Burträsk specifically, Miller says that may change.
–There's been discussion about increasing our presence there due to the recent crimes. It's an area we'll prioritize going forward.