Bank robbery in heavily policed center
The 112th bank robbery in Attica this year, a record figure, took place yesterday morning in the middle of the city where dozens of police officers were taking up position to keep order during a demonstration by civil servants. At 9.50 a.m., two armed men wearing helmets entered the Bank of Attica on the corner of Panepistimiou and Omirou streets, just off Syntagma Square, held up customers and staff, then drove off on motorcycles with about 11,000 euros. Ten days ago, Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said he would make 500 border guards available to guard banks during the Christmas season. Robberies had been on a decline since 1998, until this year. There were 69 bank robberies in 1999, 64 in 2000, and 57 in 2001, the bank employees federation, OTOE, says.
