Warsaw police arrest three Lithuanian nationals following 207,000 PLN axe robbery at Westfield Arkadia

The Westfield Arkadia break-in

In early August 2026, three masked perpetrators carried out an axe-wielding robbery inside the Westfield Arkadia shopping center in Warsaw. The attackers targeted a retail salon belonging to a mobile telecommunications network, smashing through the glass storefront with handheld axes. Inside the store, the perpetrators seized high-end electronics and mobile devices before fleeing the complex in prepared escape vehicles. Police assessments placed the total value of the stolen electronic equipment at 207,000 PLN. The rapid intrusion caused extensive physical damage to the storefront and commercial displays, leaving behind broken glass and forensic traces across the shopping corridor.

Forensic reconstruction and tracking

Detectives from the Criminal Division and the Investigation and Inquiry Division of the Warsaw Metropolitan Police took over the case immediately after the break-in. Forensic specialists examined physical traces collected at the scene, interviewed eyewitnesses, and analyzed extensive security camera footage recorded across the shopping mall and adjacent road networks. Step by step, investigators reconstructed the sequence of the crime, pinpointing the specific tools wielded during the attack and cataloging the registration and movement patterns of the getaway vehicles. This multi-week tracking effort allowed police analysts to establish the identities of the gang members and map their movements across the capital region. The operation was subsequently planned in partnership with the Intelligence and Patrol Division of the Warsaw Metropolitan Police to intercept the suspects simultaneously.

Interception of Lithuanian nationals

The multi-week police operation concluded in early September 2026 with a coordinated arrest in Warsaw. Officers detained three men, all of whom are Lithuanian citizens. According to police findings, two of the detained men had directly carried out the August break-in at Westfield Arkadia. During physical searches of the suspects and an inspection of their vehicle, officers recovered equipment assembled for another armed retail robbery. The seized items included axes, a crowbar, pepper spray canisters, balaclavas, and new work gloves that still had store tags attached to them. A statement released by the Warsaw Metropolitan Police confirmed the timing and intent behind the suspects' preparations.

“Everything indicates that the police strike occurred at the last possible moment, and the criminals were preparing for another brutal raid. During the search of the detainees and meticulous inspection of their car, officers secured axes, a crowbar, pepper sprays, balaclavas, and gloves with tags, which could have been used for further crimes.”

Criminal charges and broader inquiries

Following the arrests, prosecutors filed formal charges against two of the Lithuanian suspects for robbery, burglary, and the destruction of property. Upon reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecution, the district court ordered a three-month pre-trial detention period for both primary suspects. The overall investigation is led and supervised by the Warsaw Śródmieście-Północ District Prosecutor's Office. Investigators are currently checking whether the criminal group is connected to other unsolved commercial break-ins across Poland or elsewhere in Europe. Law enforcement authorities confirmed that the investigation remains active and did not rule out additional arrests as cross-border inquiries continue.