They were arrested by police officers of the Western Attica Security Sub-Directorate of the Attica Security Directorate in the morning hours of yesterday, May 4, 2023, in an area of ​​Western Attica, 3 citizens, aged 41, 38 and 31 years, as gang members who committed forgeries and robberies, at gunpoint, in stores in her areas Western Attica.

As part of a coordinated operation that took place yesterday, Thursday, May 4, 2023, in the wider area of ​​Western Attica, the above were identified and arrested, while their criminal activity was certified.

A case file was filed against them for – as the case may be – a gang that commits forgeries and robberies committed and attempted consecutively and jointly, disobedience as well as for violating the laws on weapons and drugs.

As it emerged in the context of a thorough investigation, the above had united, forming a gang, which having a specific “operational” structure and distinct roles and having procured the necessary logistical equipment (motorcycles, motorcycle helmets, pistols, radios, operational clothing, etc.) they committed armed robberies in stores.

How did they act?

As for the modus operandi, the gang members used a specific methodology:

  • they targeted shops with large cash reserves, such as pastry shops during festive days and money changers, which were located in the area of ​​Western Attica,
  • they would approach store employees and surprise them by removing sums of money, playing different roles, such as coffee delivery or courier,
  • they covered their features with motorcycle helmets, caps and protective masks against the coronavirus, while wearing gloves,
  • they entered the shops with the threat of a pistol and immobilizing the victims, they took the sums of money,
  • they used mid-sized motorcycles to get to and from the locations of the robberies, on which they had affixed fake license plates copied from motorcycles sold on an online site.

At the same time, the role of each in the commission of the robberies was determined, as follows:

  • the 41-year-old had a “supportive” role as he communicated with the stores thus allowing the natural perpetrator to complete his act more easily, he provided his own motorcycle to facilitate movements and he was responsible for the storage and concealment of the necessary items (weapon, radios, helmets ) and clothing (clothing, gloves, etc.) used to perform the acts,
  • the 38-year-old had an operational role, as he drove himself with “operational” machines to the “target” stores and entered the stores where, at gunpoint, he immobilized the employees and removed the sums of money while
  • the 31-year-old had a supporting role by acting as a “chiliador”, while at the same time undertaking to find motorcycles on the internet whose traffic data they falsified on the plates they placed on the “business machines”, in order to disorient the investigations of the prosecuting authorities.

What did the investigations find?

From the searches carried out in houses in total, the following were found and confiscated:

  • pellet gun with empty magazine,
  • small pistol with brown handle,
  • plastic carrying case for a weapon – pistol with an empty pellet magazine,
  • a paper tube containing a number of metal beads and an ampoule of air,
  • pepper spray,
  • fabric dispenser box color black,
  • 2 motorcycles and motorcycle helmets,
  • a variety of clothing, footwear and items related to gang activity,
  • the amount of -3,690- euros,
  • 2 paper sections that enclosed bundles of money,
  • paper package with 0.05 grams gross weight of cannabis and a pulverizer – cannabis grater.

From the whole investigation, -3- cases of robberies in a store and money exchange in the area of ​​Western Attica were discovered, one of which was an attempt, having managed to remove 6,480 euros, 4,131 American dollars and 4,885 British pounds.

Those arrested, with the case filed against them, were taken to the competent prosecutor’s office.