Minors linked to violent raids
A 16-year-old Greek girl and a 15-year-old Albanian youth were among six suspected members of a ring of robbers to be brought before an Athens prosecutor on Tuesday. The ring members are believed to have conducted several violent armed raids on suburban homes.
The remaining suspects are Albanians aged between 15 and 24, according to police who are seeking another two people in connection with the group?s activities. Investigators were reportedly surprised that such young people were able to pull off at least 23 armed robberies in southeastern Attica alone in recent weeks.
Wielding Kalashnikovs in some cases, and pistols or knives in others, the suspects would enter homes by breaking open the front door or balcony shutters before forcing the residents to hand over valuables, and often fleeing with their cars, police said.
Most of the homes targeted were in the affluent southern districts of Glyfada, Ilioupoli, Alimos, Palaio Faliro and Voula, and a few in Papagou and Aghia Paraskevi, north of Athens. The ring is also believed to be behind a raid on a jewelry store in Ilioupoli.
