A transnational criminal organization (Pink Panthers), whose members committed an armed robbery at a jewelry store in Attica, was dismantled. Two people were arrested while the details of three more members of the organization have been identified. In addition, two motorcycles were stolen, which they used during the robbery. The motorcycles were found and returned to their owners.

The Anti-Property Department of the Sub-Directorate for the Prosecution of Crimes Against Life and Property of the Attica Security Directorate, dismantled a transnational criminal organization “Pink Panthers”, whose members committed an armed robbery on December 20, 2022 at a jewelry store in Attica, taking away 24 luxury watches, totaling worth approximately 135,000 euros.

Five (5) people were identified as members of the organization, of which one citizen and four (4) foreigners, against whom a case file was filed for criminal organization, robbery, aggravated theft by complicity as well as for violation of weapons legislation.

As it emerged from the investigation, the organization was structured within the framework of transnational criminal groups and organizations of the Balkan organized crime, among which the Pink Panthers have a prominent place.

These groups present international action and mainly target jewelry stores, where they commit robberies using the “smash and grab” method or burglaries using the “ram and raid” method.

They operate in a “professional” manner, having as their leader a person with a lot of experience in the specific activity, they circulate with forged or falsified documents, taking special precautions while in all their attacks, they use autopsy and surveillance tactics of the store they have targeted, even several days before the “hit”.

For the robbery at the jewelry store in Athens, the members of the group in question:

· removed two (2) motorcycles,

· procured the necessary equipment (gun, hammer, means of concealing their facial features),

· they stayed in a short-term rental apartment in Athens for a period of a few days, which was used as a “base station”,

· for their movements before and after the robbery they used vehicles, which did not belong to them, while

· three of them entered Greece and remained there for the absolutely necessary period of time to commit the robbery and left Greece in a short period of time immediately after it was committed.

Furthermore, from the thorough analysis of the evidence obtained from all the pre-investigative material, the results of the forensic laboratories as well as the intelligence data obtained through police cooperation with other countries, the role of each member in the commission of the robbery was demonstrated.

More detail:

· A 47-year-old foreigner, before the robbery, participated in the two (2) thefts of motorcycles, which were used as means of execution, while during this, with the use of a hammer, he broke the windows and showcases of the store and removed the watches. This individual is an active member of the “Pink Panthers” criminal network with connections in various European countries, which helped direct the stolen watches to an extensive network of receivers in various countries to avoid detection.

· A 35-year-old foreigner, a permanent resident of Greece, was the connecting link between citizens and foreigners, participated in the motorcycle thefts and rented the accommodation where the “imported” perpetrators stayed. During the robbery, he remained outside the store, monitoring the area and then we assisted in the escape of the 47-year-old from Attica. He is also an active member of the “Pink Panthers” criminal network, with connections both in Greece and in other European countries.

· 48-year-old foreigner attacked and immobilized the store’s security employee on the floor so that he would not react during the robbery.

· 35-year-old citizen, threatened with a pistol the employee of the store and the private security guard, giving them orders in Greek, so that it would be considered that the criminal action was carried out by local perpetrators, distracting the investigations of the prosecuting authorities. He approached and escaped from the scene of the robbery on one of the stolen motorcycles, while the 48-year-old then fled to the “hideout”.

· a 63-year-old foreigner, acted as the organization’s “Trojan Horse” for the entry of his accomplices into the store, as by taking advantage of the image of a disabled elderly person, he managed with skillful moves to convince the security employee to keep the door of the store open for a longer time , as a result of which his accomplices entered the store.

It is noted that the 47-year-old, the 48-year-old and the 63-year-old entered our country with the sole purpose of committing the robbery and left almost immediately after it.

In a police operation that took place in the morning and noon yesterday (March 2, 2023) in Piraeus and Gerakas, the two 35-year-olds were arrested, while in searches carried out in houses as well as in their possession, among other things, the following were found and confiscated:

· 950 euros,

· 5 mobile phones, of which one is of great value,

· items of clothing and footwear worn during the robbery,

· wig and pair of gloves,

· motorcycle helmet,

· 4 cartridges,

· high accuracy weight scale,

· package with a narcotic substance, possibly cocaine, with a gross weight of 6.9 gr.

· nylon packaging, containing Indian hemp, with a total gross weight of 5.7 gr.

· identity card and driver’s license issued by foreign Authorities, of doubtful authenticity

· USB data storage device,

· 6 SIM card slots

· black knife, total length 14 cm,

· 6 packs of cigarettes, which did not have the indicative strip of cigarette consumption tax,

· various documents such as driver’s licenses, responsible declarations, bank cards, etc.

It is mentioned that the motorcycles that were stolen and used in the robbery were found on December 20 and 29, 2022 in Athens and returned to their owners.

All the members of the criminal organization have been employed in the past both in our country and abroad, for similar as well as other crimes.

Those arrested are being taken to the competent prosecuting authority, while investigations to verify their participation in other cases are also ongoing.