Three men were arrested in Thessaloniki after a high-speed chase in which suspects rammed two police vehicles, drove into oncoming traffic, and opened fire on officers, according to Greek authorities. A fourth suspect remains at large.
Police said the three Greek nationals, aged 45, 37 and 35, are alleged members of a criminal organization that systematically stole electrical transformers, causing damage of more than 550,000 euros to the electricity distribution network.
Chase and shootout in the early hours
Officers from the Crime Prevention and Suppression Department spotted a stolen agricultural vehicle in the Nea Rysia area during the early morning hours of August 1. Authorities said the vehicle had been reported stolen from a location in Halkidiki, and its occupants were linked to a transformer theft.
When police approached, the driver attempted to flee, ramming two patrol vehicles. As officers gave chase, the 35-year-old passenger fired at the windshield and bonnet of one of the police cars, according to the official announcement.
The driver then turned into oncoming traffic on the Thessaloniki-Peraia national road and collided head-on with a private car carrying two people. Both occupants of that vehicle were taken to a hospital in Thessaloniki.
The stolen vehicle was eventually stopped. The three suspects fled on foot but were located and arrested. Authorities said they resisted strongly during the arrest and injured three police officers.
Weapons and stolen goods recovered
A search of the vehicle turned up a carbine with an erased serial number, a round chambered, two additional cartridges, five spent casings, twelve copper coils stripped from transformers in a rural area of Halkidiki, and a collection of tools used to remove the coils.
Months of thefts across the region
A follow-up investigation by the Crime Investigation Department of Thermi found that the gang had, between January 20 and the date of their arrest, stolen 96 transformers and attempted to steal at least one more from a rural area of Thessaloniki, inflicting losses of at least 550,000 euros on the electricity distribution network.
The three men face charges including attempted murder, membership of a criminal organization, aggravated theft, violence against public servants, dangerous driving, illegal possession and use of a firearm, and modification of a weapon's serial number, among others. Authorities said they will be brought before the competent judicial authorities.
