Dislocated gang where committed armed robberies in stores in its areas center of Athens by the Sub-Directorate for the Prosecution of Crimes Against Life and Property of the Attica Security Directorate

In the context of a coordinated police operation carried out yesterday, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, by police officers of the Property Crimes Department, in areas of Athens, two (2) foreigners who were members of the gang were identified and arrested, while another foreigner, a member of the gang, was brought in. for which the conditions of the autoforo were not met.

A case file was filed against them for – as the case may be – the formation of a gang, serial and accomplice robberies committed in an attempt, intimidation and violations of the law on weapons and the customs code.

As it emerged from the investigation, in the period from April 2021 to March 2022, the members of the gang, having procured the necessary logistical equipment (hoods, motorcycle helmets, hats, cloth face masks, pistols, motorcycles), committed armed robberies in shops in the center of Athens.

How did they act?

In particular, in terms of modus operandi, they followed the following methodology:

  • they mainly targeted supermarkets, gambling agencies and petrol stations,
  • close to the targets, their accomplices were waiting, monitoring the area and informing about any passing police officers,
  • entered the shops with hoods, motorcycle helmets, jockey hats and cloth masks covering their features,
  • they threatened employees and customers using a gun and
  • to approach and escape from the area they used motorcycles, from which they either removed the license plates or hid them.

What did the investigations find?

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

  • sim cards,
  • mobile phone,
  • 14 packs of contraband cigarettes,
  • knife,
  • 2 drones and
  • 6 anti-suffocation masks.

So far, eight (8) robberies and two (2) attempted robberies have been solved, while investigations to fully ascertain their criminal activity, as well as to identify their further accomplices, are ongoing.

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