More than 15 criminal gangs involved in cash machine thefts have been dismantled by police in the last two years and nearly 100 people arrested in the process, confirmed the criminal police.
The announcement came from Luís Neves, the head of the national anti-terrorism unit (Unidade Nacional de Combate ao Terrorismo) of the Polícia Judiciária criminal police, after 13 people were recently arrested, among them two women, for similar crimes in the areas of Setúbal and the Alentejo.
Coruche, Biscainho and Santiago do Cacém were some of the cities targeted by the group to carry out their criminal activities. They would blow up cash machines before trying to grab the money, causing widespread destruction to property in the process.
The PJ officer said that the criminals, aged between 20 and 50 and unemployed, would normally use secondary or dirt roads to shake off the police.
Jeeps were normally used in the heists and burned after the crimes. At least four jeeps were found charred by the authorities.
The criminals were heard in court last week.
“The arrest of this group represents the culmination of a two-year investigation by the PJ police,” said Neves, adding that this type of crime is becoming less common due to the police’s efforts.
