A criminal organization whose members committed distinguished thefts in houses in the wider area of ​​Attica and in Pieria was dismantled by the Northeast Attica Security Sub-Directorate of the Attica Security Directorate.

After a coordinated police operation that took place today, Tuesday, November 21, 2023, in various areas of Attica, in Katerini Pieria and Drosero Xanthi, in collaboration with police officers from the Pieria Security Sub-Directorate and the Xanthi Security Department as well as with the assistance of police officers from O. P.K.E, 5 members of the criminal organization were identified and arrested with warrants, while 2 more people were identified.

They are accused of – as the case may be – aggravated theft by abetment and by continuation, by profession and by habit, establishment of a criminal organization, prevention and suppression of money laundering and providing others with movable or immovable property knowing that in the manner that facilitate or assist the carrying out of criminal activities.

As it emerged from the investigation, at least since March 2023 the members of the organization had joined and set up an operationally structured group with distinct roles and continuous action, acting together, with the aim of illegally obtaining income for a living, by breaking into houses in the wider region of Attica.

How did they act?

As for the mode of action (modus operandi) they used a specific methodology:

  • they approached the target houses, in the morning to lunch hours and in the afternoon to evening hours, with their business vehicles and after ascertaining that the tenants were absent, they proceeded to break balcony doors or windows,
  • disconnect or destroy any alarm systems or CCTV cameras on the premises;
  • they concealed their features by using long-sleeved shirts, long pants, gloves, disposable masks and hats,
  • they used business vehicles, which were either rented from rental companies, or were registered to other people, or in some cases they removed the license plates, making it difficult for the prosecuting authorities to locate them, while
  • they used additional and satellite vehiclesfor their transition from and to the business vehicles but also at the points where their meetings took place.
  • An important role in the cohesion of the group and its smooth action was played by the fact that the members were connected with each other by close friendly relations, while they had a common origin and cultural origins. Also, they were distinguished for their “professionalism” and their experience, having a fixed tendency to commit thefts, they did not practice any profession and the illegal incomes were invested in buying cryptocurrencies.

So far, the involvement of the accused in -14- total cases of thefts in Afidnes, Ippokrateio Politia, Glyfada, Voula, Chalandri, Palea Penteli, Spata and Svorono of Pieria have been established.

The illegal financial gain obtained by the members of the criminal group from the cases of theft identified so far exceeds the amount of -344,500- euros.

What did the investigations find?

In house searches, the following were found and confiscated:

  • a lot of jewelry and jewelry (gold chains, rings, watches, earrings, bracelets, pounds, sunglasses)
  • laptop, -2- cameras, current discharge device (teaser),
  • -2- shorts, blouse, hat, -4- pairs of sports shoes, branded wallet,
  • -17- mobile phones,
  • mobile company paper packaging,
  • pair of binoculars (binoculars),
  • 100 French cents note,
  • 10 deutsche mark note
  • 29 British pounds,
  • -24,760- euros,
  • -4- vehicles, as means of committing criminal acts.

Those arrested, with a case file filed against them, are taken to the competent prosecuting authority.