The gang robbed the houses of old people, posing as electricians or technicians (video)

The criminals posed as energy company employees or elevator repairmen who visited homes and asked them to open the door, allegedly due to a power leak or elevator malfunction.

A group of intruders was arrested on Wednesday morning as part of an operational operation jointly with OPKE (Ano-Liosia). Four citizens aged 21, 24, 27 and 39 years were detained as members of a criminal group that committed serious thefts. Two more gang members have been identified and are currently wanted.

According to ELAS, according to the preliminary investigation, the accused, since July 2023, created and joined a group with the aim of systematically stealing from the homes of elderly people living in the southern suburbs of Attica. As for the modus operandi, the gang members moved around the above-mentioned areas during the morning and afternoon hours in search of houses where there lived elderly people who could be convinced by the tricks used by the gang to enter private homes.

Criminals, posing as employees of energy companies or elevator repairmen, visited residents of the building (and demanded to open the door), allegedly because they were checking electricity meters or a malfunction of the elevator. When they managed to enter the house, one of the intruders distracted the resident, while the others ransacked the house to steal money and jewelry.

In other cases, they followed older people as they returned home and approached them to talk. As noted in the report, a characteristic feature of the persuasiveness of the pretexts used by the participants is the fact that in one case they convinced the victim to collect a sum of money and jewelry and wrap it in aluminum foil to “protect” him from negative shock. This, of course, made the job of the attackers much easier.

Based on the results of the preliminary investigation, 9 cases of theft have now been solved in Alimos, Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza. During searches carried out in their homes, the following were confiscated: clothing that was used in the commission of criminal acts, jewelry, watches, cameras, antiques and 2,300 euros. The financial benefit they received from their criminal activities is estimated at €190,000.

It is noted that the accused have been detained by authorities in the past for similar crimes. Those arrested were taken to the Athens District Attorney, and an investigation to establish the extent of their criminal activities continues.

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