The two men were arrested following an ongoing and months-long investigation by police officers from the Property Crime Unit of the Security Directorate. Thessalonikibecause they are allegedly involved in the cases robbery and burglaries, where gang members broke into homes at night while owners and tenants were sleeping.

According to the police, a 49-year-old foreigner and a 44-year-old citizen were found guilty of committing a crime, against whom a criminal case was initiated on the fact of a criminal organization – a gang, robbery with an accomplice, there are cases of committing and attempted theft, violence against employees and judicial persons, forgery of documents and violation of the law on weapons.

In particular, as it turned out as a result of a police investigation, two men formed, at least since the end of July 2022, a criminal group with the aim of professionally committing particularly large thefts.

As part of their illegal activities from 07/22/2022 to 09/23/2022, acting in the same or a different composition and with an accomplice, depending on the case, they committed a total of 14 cases of illegal actions. , namely two robberies and 12 thefts (committed and attempted) from houses in the areas of Pilaia, Panorama, Kardia, Plagiari, Trilofos and Epanomi.

In most cases, they entered while the occupants were sleeping at night, and two owners reported that they had symptoms of sleeping pill poisoning.

The total loot, consisting of gold and cash, is estimated to be around €53,000, with an additional three ICHE vehicles seized and recovered and returned to their owners.

As part of an operation organized by the Department for Combating Property Crimes, they were discovered and detained at noon yesterday, Friday, September 23, in the areas of Pilaia and Polichni. It is noted that during the immobilization, the 49-year-old man showed great resistance, while a pistol with a magazine containing five rounds, a fake Italian identity card, a fake Italian driver’s license and the amount of 725 euros were seized. discovered and confiscated in his possession in connection with criminal acts.

In addition, two ICE cars were seized, which were used by gang members to drive up and escape from places where illegal actions were committed, which were hidden after the crime in order to make it difficult for the police to detect them.

The detainees, against whom a criminal case has been initiated, will be taken to the Prosecutor’s Office of Thessaloniki, and the investigation continues to check their possible involvement in other criminal acts.