Three men, aged 41, 38 and 31, were arrested yesterday, May 4, 2023, in an area of ​​Western Attica, as members of a gang that committed forgeries and robberies at gunpoint, in shops in areas of Western Attica.

Specifically, in the context of a coordinated operation carried out in the wider area of ​​Western Attica, the three defendants 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, successively and jointly, infidelity, as well as for violating the legislation on weapons and drugs.

As emerged from the Police investigation, the three individuals had set up a gang with a specific “operational” structure and distinct roles, and having procured the necessary logistical equipment (motorcycles, motorcycle helmets, pistols, radios, operational clothing, etc.) committed armed shop robberies.

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

– they targeted stores with large cash reserves, such as confectioneries during festive days and money changers, which were located in the area of ​​Western Attica

– approached store employees and surprised them by withdrawing sums of money, playing different roles, such as coffee delivery or courier

– covered their features with motorcycle helmets, caps and masks for protection against the coronavirus, while wearing gloves

– they entered the shops with the threat of a pistol and, immobilizing the victims, took the sums of money

– they used medium displacement motorcycles to travel and escape from the places where the robberies were committed, on which they had placed fake license plates, which they had copied from motorcycles sold on an online site.

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 gun – pistol with an empty pellet magazine

– a paper tube containing a number of metal beads and an air ampoule

– pepper spray

– fabric dispenser box color black

– two motorcycles and motorcycle helmets

– a variety of clothing, footwear and items related to gang activity

– the sum of 3,690 euros

– two paper sections that enclosed bundles of money

– paper package with hemp of 0.05 gram gross weight and pulverizer – hemp grater.

From the entire investigation, three cases of robbery at a store and money exchange in the area of ​​Western Attica were discovered, of which one 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.