Μake us preferred on Google Four armed men stormed a meat-processing facility near the central Greek city of Larissa early Sunday, November 1, restraining two security guards and attempting to break into a machine used for cash deposits. The attempted robbery ended without any money being taken, and no injuries were reported.
The attack took place at the PFS meat industry’s premises on the road connecting Larissa with Ampelonas, at around 2:30 a.m. The suspects entered through a side access point in a jeep, according to accounts from the company’s owner and the head of the private security firm responsible for guarding the site.
Owner Fotis Papageorgiou said the guards spotted the intruders, who threatened them with firearms before confining them in a room so they could not raise the alarm or resist.
“They saw them. They took them and put them in a room there so they wouldn’t shout or resist,” Papageorgiou said.
Gunmen failed to break into cash deposit machine
After restraining the guards, the attackers entered the facility and headed for a machine used for banking transactions. They smashed a glass partition to reach it and tried to force it open, but were unable to gain access.
The machine resembled an ATM but was designed exclusively to accept deposits, not dispense cash, according to Thanasis Davouras, president of the Larissa Police Officers’ Union.
Security alarms were activated during the break-in, alerting the company’s monitoring center and prompting it to dispatch a second vehicle to the premises. An alarm at the bank was also triggered, Papageorgiou said.
Attackers opened fire on responding security vehicle
The owner of the security company said its second vehicle arrived shortly after the alarm went off. When the gunmen saw it approaching, they fired at it.
The employee inside immediately reversed to get away from the site and called the police. He managed to reach a safe location, where he waited for officers to arrive.
Police launched a pursuit as the suspects fled. They later set fire to their getaway vehicle, which was found burned in the area of Damasi, apparently in an attempt to destroy evidence and conceal their trail.
The four men left without taking any money. Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify and locate those involved.
Police officer arrested during investigation
A police officer was also arrested as part of the investigation after authorities found that he had been working illegally as a security guard at the meat-processing business.
