Suspect apprehended after robbing Irbid currency exchange at knifepoint

AMMAN — The Irbid Criminal Court prosecution office levelled armed robbery with excessive force charges against a suspect who reportedly robbed a currency exchange at knifepoint in Irbid over the weekend.

The suspect reportedly entered a currency exchange on Thursday, after which he “waved a knife and jumped over the counter”, Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

The suspect cleared the cash drawers and escaped with JD11,000 in cash, the police official told The Jordan Times

“A special investigation team was immediately tasked with following up on the robbery, and they were able to collect evidence and pinpoint a suspect,” Sartawi explained.

 The taskforce team raided the suspect’s home and “arrested him without any major incident”, according to Sartawi. I8i   

“Police were able to retrieve a large amount of the stolen cash,” Sartawi added, without revealing the amount recovered.

Several armed robberies have targeted financial establishments and other entities in recent months.

In January, two suspects reportedly robbed a gas station at gunpoint in Northern Shouneh, escaping with JD1,700.

The two suspects attacked the station employee with a blunt object while pumping gas.

Police announced then that one of the suspects was arrested, and that police were able to retrieve a portion of the stolen cash.

In June 2020, a currency exchange near Queen Alia Airport Highway was robbed as several suspects entered the premises waving guns at the employees and demanding cash.

The suspects escaped with JD3,000 in cash, and no one was injured in the incident.

If convicted of the charges of armed robbery with excessive force, the suspect could receive a minimum of five years in prison.