The police seized explosives, burglary tools, wigs and 11 kilos of explosives. The gang specialized in attacks on automatic teller machines and also carried out attacks in Abruzzo: first they blew up the ATM, then they left spike strips behind them to stop their pursuers.
PESCARA – Around 80 officers were deployed by the Foggia Police this morning for an operation which led to the arrest of 8 people held responsible for several armed robberies, which also caused extensive damage to the structures affected. The gang, based in Cerignola, specialized in hitting ATMs using explosives and carried out several robberies in Basilicata, Campania and Abruzzo.
The modus operandi of the ATM gang defeated in Cerignola was tested: first the automatic cash point was blown up with the “marmot technique”, which involves placing a small device in the slot from which the banknotes usually come out, then some nail strips were placed on the asphalt, to stop any pursuers.
The investigations began last February, when the police noticed several points of contact between robberies which took place in places distant from each other: the homemade explosives used, the use of stolen and then abandoned vehicles, the of access points and more. The hits also caused the victims further and extensive collateral damage, since the explosions damaged the structures in which the blown-up ATMs were installed.
During today’s operations, officers seized various material used during the robberies, such as wigs and burglary tools, but also 11 kilos of explosives and ready-made devices.
