Three foreign national suspects arrested in Limassol used electronic cameras to monitor flats remotely and specialist burglary tools to open even security doors without leaving visible signs of forced entry, police said.
The three appear to be linked to a string of burglaries reported over the past fortnight in several parts of the city, including Panthea, Ayios Athanasios and the Potamos Germasogeias area, according to police.
Assistant Limassol police director Lefteris Kyriakou said police launched an operational plan in response to the cases, placing specific areas under surveillance. In recent days, officers received information about a suspicious flat where people matching descriptions released publicly may have been staying.
The flat was placed under discreet surveillance in cooperation with another police service, while officers also identified a suspicious vehicle believed to have been used by the suspects.
On Sunday, March 15, police located and stopped the vehicle. During the check, officers found a 49-year-old man, who police say resisted officers but was arrested.
At the same time, members of the CID, the Crime Prevention Unit and YDAP searched the flat under a court warrant, where two other 38-year-old suspects were staying. During the search, officers found specialist burglary tools, jewellery, watches and other items which appear to be linked to at least 10 burglaries carried out recently in Limassol.
Kyriakou said the tools found were used to open security doors without visible signs of tampering. Using special mechanisms and techniques, the gang’s members were able to get into flats without leaving signs of a break-in, he said.
In some cases, police found that locks had been removed, while in others the suspects appear to have entered flats without any visible interference with the door, using special keys and specialist tools even when security doors were locked.
Police say the evidence gathered so far points to an organised gang experienced in this type of burglary, equipped with the necessary tools and using electronic surveillance methods. Specifically, the suspects appear to have used electronic cameras and other means to monitor areas remotely and identify when residents were away from their homes.
Kyriakou said the suspects appear to have been active for about 10 to 15 days so far. However, based on the items found, members of the public and possible victims are expected to be asked to identify whether the objects were stolen in burglaries and when those offences were committed.
The identities presented by the suspects also appear to be false. Kyriakou said: “We believe these are forged documents and examinations will be carried out using scientific methods to establish the true identities of the suspects.”
He added that the identities do not appear to have been obtained from Cyprus. The documents come from other countries and police will work with Interpol and Europol to determine their origin and whether the details shown on them are genuine.
The value of the items found is believed to be high, but police said no precise estimate can yet be given until it is confirmed which specific burglaries they are linked to.