The Western Attica Security Sub-Directorate proceeded to dismantle a criminal organization, whose members stole vehicles, which they then used as means to systematically commit thefts from homes, in areas of eastern Attica.
10 people were arrested for the case, after a wide police operation that took place on Thursday with the assistance of EKAM police officers. and OPKE, the Directorates of Police Operations and Direct Action of Attica, as well as representatives of the Judicial Authority.
Against them, as well as against 5 more people, one of whom was incarcerated in a Detention Center, a case file was filed for – as the case may be – establishment, management and membership in a criminal organization, distinguished thefts, robbery, forgery, accepting and disposing of proceeds of crime, committed and attempted, jointly and severally, providing movable assets to a criminal organization, obtaining a false certificate, false testimony, as well as for violating the laws on weapons and drugs.
According to today’s announcement 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 action in professionally committing thefts in houses, with the aim of the illegal financial benefit that exceeds 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 deactivated-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:
* a large number of jewelry and gold items (gold pounds, lead 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.
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