The Athens First Instance Prosecutor’s Office has brought serious criminal charges against eight people arrested in connection with the robbery at a bank branch in Kato Tithorea, Fthiotida.

The eight suspects were brought this afternoon (May 12) before the courts at the former Evelpidon School complex, where criminal prosecution was launched against them for five felony charges and a series of misdemeanor offenses.

Among other things, the suspects are being prosecuted for the felonies of forming and participating in a criminal organization, aggravated theft committed jointly, professionally, and repeatedly, repeated armed robbery committed jointly, aggravated illegal possession of firearms, and aggravated illegal carrying of weapons (military rifles, grenades, etc.).

Additional charges include illegal carrying of weapons, illegal possession of firearms, procurement and possession of drugs for personal use, violence against public employees, and falsification of license plates.

After the charges were filed, the defendants were brought before an investigating judge, from whom they are expected to request and receive additional time to prepare their statements. The transfer of the suspects to the former Evelpidon court complex took place under extremely strict security measures, while groups of young people had gathered outside the courts shouting slogans in support of them.

How the group operated

The group’s members had carried out at least 10 additional bank robberies. According to the investigation by the Greek FBI, the suspects had previously struck in Papagou, Galatsi, Nea Chalkidona, Nea Ionia, Achaia, and Aetolia-Acarnania — something that had already placed them on the authorities’ radar.

A 30-year-old man allegedly held the leadership role, organizing and coordinating the gang’s actions, while his 26-year-old partner, with whom he lived, allegedly acted as deputy leader and intermediary between members.

Information suggests that the perpetrators knew each other and made their living mainly through robberies. Before carrying out attacks, they monitored their targets, with well-informed sources stating that they had previously visited Kato Tithorea without taking any action.

According to reports, police realized something was being prepared last Saturday when they noticed four of those involved moving toward the area where the robbery later took place. Officers from the burglary division then began discreet surveillance, while various Organized Crime Directorate teams were deployed in the area.

Police believe the suspects had timed how long it would take a patrol car to reach the targeted bank — 27 minutes — which is why they did not rush to leave and instead remained inside the branch for around 24 minutes.

They carried heavy weaponry, including Kalashnikov rifles and grenades, and are believed to have been prepared to use them, as all the weapons they carried were loaded.

For the robbery, they used two vehicles. The first vehicle they used was abandoned without being burned so as not to reveal their location.

The investigation found that the gang’s “headquarters” was located in Galatsi. All the accused reportedly gathered there and planned their operations there. Police sources explained that they were extremely cautious and moved mainly on foot.

After the robbery in Kato Tithorea, officers from the Organized Crime Directorate placed the escape vehicle under discreet surveillance and carried out an immobilization operation in the Schinos area of Corinthia.

The operation was organized in a secure location, as the suspects were considered highly dangerous. Despite resisting arrest, five individuals were detained, while parallel searches were conducted in homes and other locations of interest in Attica and other regions of the country, where the remaining members of the group were found.

During the searches, authorities seized, among other things, Kalashnikov rifles, a Scorpion submachine gun, five grenades, five pistols, detonators, a bulletproof vest, fake license plates, disguises, mobile phones, burglary tools, and a forged ID card.

At the same time, €215,345 was found and confiscated — almost the entire amount stolen during the robbery in Kato Tithorea.

So far, authorities have solved 11 bank robberies, one attempted ATM burglary, 11 motorcycle thefts, and four car thefts, while the organization’s total financial gain is estimated to exceed €483,000.

See photos from the transfer of the suspects to the Evelpidon court complex.