Finnish jewellery shop targeted in third robbery but elderly owners refuse to close

A jewellery and watch shop in Hyrynsalmi, eastern Finland, has been robbed three times, with the latest break-in last year nearly forcing its elderly owners to shut down—yet they have chosen to continue, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

Terttu and Veikko Heikkinen, the owners of Hyryn Kello ja Kulta, recall the dramatic night a year ago when two burglars smashed through a large security window and shattered display cases in their ground-floor shop. The noise woke Veikko Heikkinen, then 75, who rushed downstairs barefoot to confront the intruders.

“I didn’t even think about putting on clothes,” he said. “I just went down to get them out.”

Despite the risk, Heikkinen chased the robbers away, suffering cuts to his feet from broken glass. The aftermath left the shop in chaos—scattered merchandise, broken shelves, and blood on the floor. At the time, he admitted considering closure after the third robbery.

Yet after cleaning up, the couple decided to keep the business running. “I couldn’t give this up,” Terttu Heikkinen said, though they now limit stock to customer orders only. “We’ll keep going at our own pace.”

Police have not updated the Heikkisens on the investigation. Veikko Heikkinen had one message for the robbers: “Stop this eventually. Clean up your act and get a real job—because one day, it’ll all catch up with you.”