ELAS proceeded to dismantle a gang, whose members were committing distinguished thefts in houses and companies in the wider area of ​​Attica.

After a coordinated police operation that took place today (26/4) in the morning in various areas of Attica, 4 members of the criminal organization, including the leader, were identified and arrested with warrants.

In addition, in the context of the operation, one more person was arrested, against whom prosecution documents were pending for distinguished thefts, while the case file that was formed includes 7 members of the organization, as well as a police officer for breach of official confidentiality.

It was preceded by a long and thorough investigation, resulting in the investigation of a total of 42 cases of theft from homes and companies, of which 14 were attempted, as well as 5 thefts of license plates, in various areas of Attica.

It emerged that the members of the organization had, at least from October 2022 to February 2023, joined and formed an operationally structured group with distinct roles and continuous action, acting in concert, with the purpose of illegally obtaining income for a living by committing luxury burglaries houses and companies in the wider area of ​​Attica.

Regarding the method of action, the members of the criminal organization used a specific methodology:

– they approached the houses – targets in the evening or early morning hours with their business vehicle and after finding that the occupants were absent, they proceeded to break central doors or windows,

-they took self-protection measures, covering all parts of their body, using (gloves, motorcycle helmets and full-face hoods),

-they were equipped with all the appropriate means required to commit burglaries (crows, sledgehammers and other tools),

-they used only wireless intercom to communicate with each other,

-they used business vehicles with high horsepower, which were changed at regular intervals and varied in their external appearance, while also installing stolen or fake license plates, making it difficult for the prosecuting authorities to detect them.

The leader had a catalytic role in the activity of the criminal organization. He lived permanently in an area of ​​northern Greece and moved to Attica, with privately owned or rented vehicles and means of transport, staying for long periods of time in the homes of his relatives or short-term leases, developing his criminal activity. In fact, it is characteristic that the other members of the organization did not take any action without his consent.

According to ELAS, an important role in their action was played by the operational vehicles, which they hid in “cattle” areas. They chose as their parking spaces parking lots belonging to third parties with no criminal history and persuaded them to grant them. They used “satellite” vehicles for their transfer to and from the operational vehicles, so that it becomes difficult for the prosecuting authorities to locate them.

As emphasized in the relevant announcement, the total financial benefit obtained by the criminal organization in a period of approximately 4 months exceeds the monetary amount of 644,000 euros.

In a search carried out at a house, the sum of 950 euros and a ring were found and confiscated, while 3 cars were also seized.

Those arrested, with the case filed against them, will be taken to the competent prosecution authority.