Police detain 11 over Ilomantsi burglaries

Police in eastern Finland have detained 11 people suspected of carrying out five separate thefts in Ilomantsi between September and October, Yle reported.

Police said the suspects are Romanian and do not live permanently in Finland. Investigators believe there may be more burglary targets than they currently know about, and have urged owners of summer cottages in the Ilomantsi area to check their properties.

Not all the break-ins involved holiday homes. The targets also included a repair workshop and an outdoor storage building, police said.

During searches, officers found a substantial quantity of items suspected of being stolen, including power tools, outboard motors and saws. The items have been seized and are being held at Joensuu police station. People who believe their property may be among them can contact police and provide identifying details.

Police are asking for information about any other possible burglaries in the area. The officer leading the investigation said the series was not exceptionally large.