Police on Wednesday announced arrests in a case involving a criminal gang accused of stealing vehicles and blowing up an ATM in the town of Martino, south-central Fthiotida prefecture, as authorities investigate a series such robberies across Greece.
Two local men, aged 44 and 29, were arrested Monday, Sept. 14, during coordinated operations in the greater Athens area and Corinth prefecture. They face charges of forming a criminal organization, forgery, causing an explosion and property damage, robbery and violations of legislation on weapons and flares.
According to the police investigation, the two allegedly formed a gang in late 2023 targeting vehicles and ATMs at bank branches and supermarkets outside major urban centers.
In December 2023, they allegedly used solid explosives to blow up an ATM in Martino. Police said the men had concealed their identities and were armed. They allegedly used a cable and a crane truck, which they had previously stolen in the same area, to pull out the ATM safe containing 43,420 euros and load it onto a stolen van.
Searches of the suspects and their homes uncovered a handgun with a magazine and seven rounds, two two-way radios, four marine flares, a folding knife, two vehicle electronic control units, equipment allegedly used to falsify vehicle identification details and metal dies for altering chassis numbers. Officers also seized numerous mobile phones, 750 euros in cash, a wristwatch and a car allegedly used in criminal activity.
The investigation has also linked the suspects to two vehicle thefts in Kifissia and Metamorfosi between October and December 2023. Both men had previously come to the attention of police for similar and other offenses.
The case comes amid a series of ATM attacks reported in recent months. In August, an ATM in Perachora, Corinth, was blown up and its cash cassette, containing an estimated 91,000 euros, was stolen.
In July, police arrested the alleged leader of a separate organization accused of nine ATM bombings, including two attempted attacks, as well as three vehicle thefts. Authorities said the group had stolen more than 440,000 euros since February 2025.
An ATM outside a supermarket in Vrilissia, northern Athens, was also destroyed in an explosion in June, with suspects fleeing with the machine’s cash cassettes.
In May, authorities dismantled an eight-member robbery gang allegedly linked to bank robberies, vehicle thefts and ATM explosions, including an attack in Kato Tithorea.
