NEWS

Police unveil local art gang

Authorities have caught up with a gang of thieves suspected of dealing in expensive pieces of stolen art, antiques and silverware taken from homes in Athens’s northern suburbs and passed on to local galleries, police said yesterday. Two suspects were initially arrested on May 4 and 5, police said, after they were caught attempting to break into a home in Kifissia. Testimony from the two suspects, who were not identified, then led police to three other gang members who were arrested on Saturday. Police found in their possession 33 paintings by well-known Greek and foreign artists. Among the items allegedly stolen included a work by 19 century French painter Eugene Delacroix, police added. Separately, officials from the Finance Ministry’s Special Investigations Service arrested in Iraklion, Crete, yesterday a Turkish national suspected of illegally trading in precious stones.

Subscribe to our Newsletters

Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights, opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox.

By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.