-8- members of the organization were arrested and -16- cases of thefts and attempted thefts were investigated
Seized, among others, was a quantity of jewellery, a repeating rifle, a pistol, a revolver, as well as the amount of 4.780 euros
The total financial benefit obtained by the criminal organization exceeds 90.000 euros
A criminal organization was dismantled by the Public Security Department of the Northeast Attica Security Sub-Directorate of the Attica Security Directorate, whose members systematically committed thefts using the employment method against elderly people, posing as PPC employees, in various areas of Attica.
In order to deconstruct the criminal organization, the morning and noon hours were carried out yesterday, Wednesday, June 14, 2023 by police officers of the above service, with the assistance of O.P.K.E. and Order Restoration Platoon, a coordinated police operation during which eight (8) citizens, members of the organization, including the commander, were identified and arrested.
A case file was filed against them for - as the case may be - criminal organization, distinguished cases of theft, by complicity, committed and attempted, by two or more who were organized with the purpose of committing theft by continuation and by profession, prevention and suppression of legalization proceeds of crime and terrorist financing, as well as contravention of arms and drug laws.
The case file also includes nine (9) citizens, whose details have been identified and are being sought.
As it emerged from the investigation, at least since November 2022, the above had formed and united in a criminal group, having distinct roles, with the aim of systematically committing thefts against elderly people, in which they pretended to be PPC employees and in this way obtained significant illicit financial gain.
Regarding the mode of action (modus operandi), the members of the criminal organization used a specific methodology, namely:
- morning or midday hours using either relatives' vehicles or rented vehicles, they followed elderly people, who were walking to their homes,
- gained access to the homes of the elderly, whom they had previously convinced that it was necessary to examine the electrical panel,
- upon entering the house, they were led to the kitchen where one of the members of the organization occupied them under various pretexts, while at the same time his accomplices, without being noticed, searched the rest of the premises and removed sums of money, jewels and valuables and
- a member of the team waited in the operational vehicle performing the duties of a chiller and ensuring their quick escape, while in some cases they also used two operational vehicles to make it difficult to connect them with the illegal acts.
At the same time, the role of each member of the organization was specified, specifically:
- the leading member was 57 years old, who had absolute control of the organization, taking care of the implementation of the entire operational arm. He chose as members of the organization people who mainly came from his family environment. At the same time, he proceeded to select the elderly victims, whom he approached and gained their trust, while at the same time directing the rest of the members through orders, who completely disciplined them,
- the operational arm of the criminal organization consisted of 13 members of the criminal organization who acted as direct assistants – accomplices of the 57-year-old. During the commission of the criminal acts, at least one of the members remained outside the target's home, acting as a vigilante, so that in case the other members were noticed either by neighbors or by running police officers, he could ensure their safe escape,
- of the above members, a 33-year-old secured the group's business vehicles, while in some cases he rented vehicles from vehicle rental companies. In some others he had vehicles of his own property for the commission of criminal acts, while
- the other members functioned as auxiliaries, providing the necessary cover to the operational members and having registered the operational vehicles in their name, they made identification by the prosecuting authorities difficult.
A characteristic element of the way the criminal organization operated was the depravity and anti-sociality displayed by its members, as they exclusively targeted elderly people with multiple health problems who were helpless while carrying out their illegal acts.
In searches carried out in houses, a total of the following were found and confiscated:
- Lots of high value jewelry (neck chains, hand chains, crosses, rings, watches, pins, necklaces, bracelets),
- repeating rifle,
- pistol, magazine with 14 rounds of 9mm,
- cartridge pack with 50 9mm cartridges,
- revolver with 5 flash bang rounds,
- air gun,
- taser electric discharge device with charging cable,
- laptop computer, PLAYSTATION device, tablet,
- 6 mobile phones with SIM cards,
- POS device,
- recorder,
- hemp in raw form, with a total weight of 1,1 grams,
- the sum of 4.780 euros,
- 2 Ι.Χ.Ε. cars,
- black FULL FACE type hood and
- clothing used during the commission of the thefts.
From the investigation so far, -13- cases of thefts and -3- attempted thefts from houses in Chalandri, Kifissia, Nea Ionia, Marousi, Psychiko, Nea Philadelphia and Nea Smyrni have been discovered, while the total financial benefit obtained by the criminal organization exceeds 90.000 euros.
Those arrested, with the case filed against them, will be taken to the competent prosecuting authority.
Picture sabinevanerp / https://pixabay.com
