10 people were arrested for the case, after a wide police operation that took place on Thursday (25/4)
The Western Attica Security Sub-Directorate proceeded to dismantle a criminal organization, whose members stole vehicles, which were then used as means to systematically commit thefts from homes, in areas of eastern Attica.
10 people were arrested in the case, after a large police operation that took place on Thursday (25/4) with the assistance of E.K.A.M. police officers. and OPKE, the Directorates of Police Operations and Direct Action of Attica, as well as representatives of the Judicial Authority.
At their expense, as well as at the expense of another 5 people, one of whom was locked up in a Detention Center, a case file was filed for – as the case may be – establishment, management and membership in a criminal organization, aggravated theft, robbery, forgery, acceptance and disposal of proceeds of crime, committed and attempted, jointly and in succession, provision of movable assets to a criminal organization, embezzlement of perjury, perjury, as well as violation of gun and drug laws.
According to a statement by ELAS, the investigation of the case began in May 2023, after OPKE police officers identified of a stolen vehicle at a car repair shop in Zefyri, where three more stolen vehicles with forged frames were found as well as a number of items used in house thefts.
From the subsequent investigation, it was determined the formation of an operationally structured criminal organization, with continuous activity in professionally carrying out house thefts, with the aim of illegal property benefit exceeding 146,000 euros.
In particular, the members of the criminal organization, at least since December 2022, carried out vehicle thefts and then forgery – falsification of their identification data (frame number), in order to avoid detection and legitimate possession and circulation.
They acted with specific roles, which are divided into the theft of vehicles, concealing them, falsifying their identification numbers and individuals taking possession of the falsified vehicles as legitimate.
As it emerged afterwards, the members of the organization used the stolen vehicles or other legally acquired property on which they used stolen license plates, to commit thefts in houses, mainly in eastern Attica (N. Makri, Porto Rafti, Kalivia, Pikermi, Hippocrates Politia, Dionysus).
Regarding the way of action in house thefts, the members of the organization:
* they approached the target house with the vehicle and usually one of them checked if there were any occupants inside. Then three or four would enter it, the driver waiting close by,
* they used a crowbar and a large screwdriver for the burglary,
* they disabled-destroyed the alarm or cut the cable connecting the house to the telephone network,
* they abused dogs that might have been in the yard, a fact proven by the fact that the animals were found after committing the crime scared or stunned or beaten, while
* they processed the gold items removed from the houses, in the basement of a house in Zefyri, where equipment and casting materials were found.
At the same time, they took special measures to counter-surveillance and make it difficult to locate them, using full-face hoods and jokey hats, as well as gloves. Also, they used “business” phones, in the data of non-existent foreigners (ghost numbers), which they replaced after a certain number of thefts.
From the searches carried out in 14 houses, in the areas of Zephyrion, Elefsina and Athens, the following were found and confiscated:
* large amount of jewelry and gold (gold pounds, stones, casting materials and means)
* 18,960 euros,
* 17 vehicles,
* 100 grams of cannabis,
* 2 precision scales,
* air pistol,
* flash stun gun,
* number of mobile phones and sim cards and
* amount of clothing and footwear related to thefts.
So far, 35 cases of theft, committed and attempted, 1 case of robbery, 5 cases of car theft, as well as cases of forgery, theft of false certificates and acceptance and disposal of products have been solved.
Those arrested were taken to the competent Prosecutor and referred to an investigator.
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