Menidi: Catalysts made of.. gold – How did the 2 coils that “took” cars in Attica work – Video from the EL.AS raid on their hideout

Two (2) criminal organizations the members of which committed systematically theft of catalysts from cars in its various regions Attica were deconstructed in the context of many months of methodical police investigations by the Northeast Attica Security Directorate, of the Attica Security Directorate,

They were arrestedmorning hours today, Wednesday September 14, 2022 in a coordinated police operation in the area of ​​Acharna and Zephyrio 12 members of the organizations and specifically 11 citizens (from 21 to 45 years old) and a 25-year-old citizen, including the senior executives.

A case file was filed against them for – as the case may be – the offenses of aggravated theft, damage to foreign property, criminal organization, money laundering, as well as violations of weapons legislation. The file also includes one person whose details have been identified.

How did they act?

As it emerged, the arrested persons, at least since April 2022, had founded and joined two criminal organizations with continuous action and distinct and alternating roles, with the object of removing catalysts from cars in various areas of Attica.

As for their method of action, which was identical for both criminal organizations, their members, based in Zephyri and with a different composition each time, mainly at night or in the early hours of the morning, approached parked vehicles and using special equipment (electric cutters etc.), were removing their exhaust catalysts. In many cases, in order to achieve their goal, they caused extensive damage to the target vehicles.

As “business” cars they used vehicles belonging to rental companies, while immediately after the thefts they handed over the stolen goods to other members who were tasked with the role of guarding them and later channeling them.

These members then developed the appropriate network of customers where they sold the stolen goods, reaping large financial benefits, which were shared among the members of the organizations.

It is noted that their preference for this specific car part is not accidental, since, depending on the type of vehicle, its age, and also the fuel it uses, it has a different content of precious metals such as rhodium, palladium and platinum, the price of which in recent years it has even approached the prices of gold.

From the preliminary investigation so far, -58- cases of theft and 2 attempted thefts have been discovered, with the total financial benefit, obtained by the first criminal organization, estimated to exceed 20,000 euros, while for the second, 10,000 euros.

What did the investigations find?

As part of the operations, 11 lawful searches were carried out in residences, during which the following were seized:

• 5,075 euros,
• two cars
• 43 car catalysts and exhaust end part,
• stun gun and collapsible glock,
• a number of cutting tools, as well as telephone devices.

Police officers from the Northeast Attica Security Sub-Directorate, the Special Operations Sub-Directorate, the Attica Police Operations Directorate, as well as police officers from the North-East Attica Security Departments participated in the police operations.

Those arrested will be taken to the competent prosecuting authority, while investigations to ascertain the full scope of their criminal activity continue.

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