Man Arrested in Zagreb After Allegedly Tearing Jewelry From Older Women

Zagreb police arrested a 22-year-old man shortly after he allegedly tore jewelry from a woman in the Maksimir area, then linked him to a series of attacks on older women.

Police suspect the man committed eight aggravated thefts and two robberies, including one attempted robbery. Between September 2024 and August 2026, he allegedly approached older women in Novi Zagreb and Maksimir and suddenly pulled jewelry from their necks.

In most cases, police said, he approached from behind and relied on surprise. In some incidents, he allegedly distracted women by speaking to them or followed them before attacking in a passageway, a building entrance or on the street.

Police said the suspect used greater force in two incidents. On August 30, he allegedly approached a woman from behind in a Novi Zagreb underpass, grabbed her necklace and pushed her after she tried to hold on to it. She fell, and he took the jewelry. The previous day, he allegedly struck another woman on the head in a residential building entrance and tried to pull off her jewelry, but fled without getting it.

Police recovered the jewelry taken in the incident that led to the arrest and returned it to the victim. The suspected offenses caused material damage of about 5,500 euros. After the investigation, the suspect was transferred to a detention supervisor, while a special report went to the competent state prosecutor’s office. Police said they had previously dealt with him several times and filed criminal complaints over other suspected offenses.