They sold busts of Venizelos-Kazantzidis for scrap – The video that “burned” them

Spiral he was stealing bronze busts and sold them to scrap companyELAS disbanded.

The perpetrators, a 36-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman, stole a bronze bust of Eleftherios Venizelos from Artemis square and sold it for 150 euros in a scrap shop in Menidi, where its 53-year-old owner immediately melted it down. It is worth noting that each kilogram of copper costs four euros.

Last May, they did the same to his bust Stelios Kazantzidis in Nea Ionia. It is worth noting that the bust was placed near the house where the beloved folk singer was born and raised.

The officers of the Northeast Attica Security Directorate arrested the couple and the owner of the scrap company, while they are looking for their 32-year-old accomplice.

The video that “burned” them

The start of the dislocation of the spiral was made when a citizen filmed with his cell phone camera the theft of the bust of El. Venizelou in Artemisa, thus helping the authorities to locate and arrest the perpetrators.

The spiral in question has stolen eight busts in Philothei, Artemis and Nea Ionia.

In more detail:

1. On 7-6-2022, they removed his bust MALEBITSI which was located opposite the Philothei High School.
2. On 6-14-2022, Delvoi square in Nea Erythrea, they removed the bust of HERO DILVOI
3. On 7-7-2022 in Eleftheriou Square in Artemisa they removed the bust of ELEFTHERIOU VENIZELOS
4. In an earlier time from 17-4-2022 in Philinda Square in Nea Ionia they removed the bust of PHILINDA
5. On 18-4-2022 in Nea Ionia, they removed his bust SINOPOULOU
6. In an earlier time from 12-5-2022 in Nea Ionia they removed the bust of KAZANTZIDE
7. In an earlier time from 4-26-2022 in Nea Ionia they removed the bust of SOURI
8. In an earlier time from 12-5-2022 in Nea Ionia they removed the bust of ELEFTHERIOU VENIZELOS

The full police statement:

From the Security Directorate of Northeastern Attica, a case file was filed against four (4) persons, three citizens aged 36, 32 and 53 and a 35-year-old foreigner, for the -as the case may be- crimes of the criminal organization – gang, distinguished thefts by follow-up and by profession, by two or more organized with the purpose of committing thefts, removing things of artistic and historical importance that are exposed in a public place, accepting and disposing of proceeds of crime and violating the Arms Act.

The 36-year-old man and the 35-year-old woman were arrested, on 7-7-2022, in the area of ​​Artemisa, by police officers of the above Service, and in the area of ​​Acharna, the 53-year-old man. The 32-year-old is wanted.

In particular, in the early morning hours of 7-7-2022, the 36-year-old and the 35-year-old woman, riding in a car, approached Platia in the area of ​​Artemis and removed the bust of Eleftherios VENIZELOS, detaching it entirely from its base.

After searches, they were located in the area of ​​Artemis, immobilized and arrested. From the investigation that followed, it was established that a few hours after the theft, they went to a “junk shop”, in the area of ​​Acharna, where they sold the bust.

The thrift store was located and its 53-year-old local owner was arrested, who accepted the purchase of the bust for 150 euros, which he then melted down.

According to the data obtained from the preliminary investigation, the 32-year-old, the 36-year-old and the 35-year-old accused organized, with the purpose of illegally obtaining income for a living, by committing thefts of busts from the wider region of Northeast Attica.

Regarding the methodology of action, passengers on I.X.E. car, they approached in the early hours of the morning, parks and squares in the region of Northeast Attica, in which they had already identified monuments with busts.

Then, they would get out of the vehicle and remove the bust, detaching it completely from its base, then place it in the respective “business” car and leave the scene, immediately going to a “scrap shop” to sell it, based on her weight.

After a search of the home of the 35-year-old and the 36-year-old woman, a hunting rifle and 3 cartridges were found and confiscated. The car they used, as a means of facilitating the commission of the criminal acts, was also confiscated.

From the investigation of the Northeast Attica Security Sub-Directorate, it was established that the defendants participated in the following criminal acts:

1. On 7-6-2022, they removed the bust of MALEVITSI that was opposite the Philothei High School.

2. On 6-14-2022, the bust of HERO DILBOH was removed from Dilboi square in Nea Erythrea

3. On 7-7-2022, the bust of Eleftherios Venizelos was removed from Eleftherios Square in Artemisa

4. In an earlier time from 17-4-2022 in Philinda Square in Nea Ionia they removed the bust of Philinda

5. On 18-4-2022 in Nea Ionia they removed the bust of SINOPOULOS

6. In an earlier time from 12-5-2022 in Nea Ionia they removed the bust of KAZANTZIDES

7. In an earlier time from 4-26-2022 in Nea Ionia they removed the bust of SOURI

8. In an earlier time from 12-5-2022 in Nea Ionia they removed the bust of ELETHERIOS VENIZELOS

The arrested persons, with the case filed against them, were taken to the Athens District Attorney, who referred them for main questioning.

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