In 2013, several people were arrested in Nea Filadelphia, a suburb of Athens[1]. Four of them were accused of carrying out bank robberies[2] in 2011[3] and 2013[4].
After a trial in 2014, two people were sentenced to 16 years in prison[5]. After another trial in 2014[6] and an appeal in 2016[7], the other two were sentenced to 9 and 11 years in prison, respectively.
Techniques used
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Forensics | ||
| DNA | The charges against several people were based on a match between their DNA, taken by force while in custody, and DNA traces found on “mobile objects” near the robberies[3]. | |
| Physical surveillance | ||
| Covert | On the day of the arrests, when one person visited a cybercafé that was probably under police surveillance, cops recognized him and started following him[1]. He then moved through the streets of Athens for a few hours, gradually joining the other people — some of whom were wanted by police[8] — and all of them were arrested. | |