Self-styled anarchists are thought to have been behind raids on supermarkets in Athens and Thessaloniki over the weekend, which ended with the hooded youths handing out the stolen loot to people shopping at nearby open-air markets.

A group of about 25 people entered the Atlantik supermarket in Ambelokipi, central Athens, at 2 p.m. on Saturday and filled up trolleys with goods that they then distributed at the local fruit and vegetable market before police arrived. No arrests were made.

Meanwhile, some 15 people were involved in an identical raid on a supermarket in the Toumba area of Thessaloniki at 12.40 p.m. on the same day. They also gave out the stolen goods at a local market before police could make any arrests.

These Robin Hood-style raids have become increasingly common over the last few months.