The Northeast Attica Crime Prosecution and Investigation Sub-Directorate of the Attica Crime Prosecution and Investigation Directorate dismantled a gang whose members committed thefts from houses in the Northeast Attica region.

Specifically, as announced by ELAS, 2 foreigners, aged 29 and 52, were arrested on Wednesday morning as part of an organized operation, as members of a gang that commits distinguished thefts by complicity, by follow-up and by profession and violence against employees, while the 29-year-old is also accused of violating weapons laws.

From the months-long preliminary investigation by the police, it emerged that the defendants had been burglarizing houses, mainly in areas of Northeast Attica, since at least September.

Regarding the methodology of their action, the defendants, in the morning and afternoon hours, aboard rented “business” vehicles, broke into houses using “passepartout” keys.

According to ELAS, the defendants chose to spy on their target houses, moving mainly on foot and doing a complete and long-term analysis of the targets, while during the surveillance of the houses, they moved around carrying advertising brochures, so as not to arouse the suspicions of the residents. In addition, they rang the bells of target houses in order to ascertain whether the tenant was absent, in order to ensure their unhindered action while committing thefts in neighboring apartment buildings as well as in different apartments within the same apartment building.

They also used a number of rented “business” vehicles in order to make their identification difficult.

It is noted that the defendants were removing keys from inside the houses, in order to create a “base” that would facilitate the breaching of doors in the future, while for their communication they used an encrypted message application.

14 cases of theft from houses in Cholargo, Papagou, Neo Psychiko, Agia Paraskevi, Chalandri and Ampelokipi were solved, while the total financial benefit of their criminal activity exceeds the amount of 195,000 euros.

From the searches carried out in their houses, among others, the following were found and confiscated:

  • 58,150 euros,
  • 8,550 US dollars,
  • variety of jewellery, watches, sunglasses and bags,
  • number of burglar tools and keys,
  • air pistol,
  • 2 knives,
  • clothing used during the commission of the thefts and
  • mobile phones.

The arrested were taken to the Athens District Attorney, while the investigation to ascertain the full scope of their criminal activity continues.