Portimão Judicial Police officers have detained three youngsters suspected of involvement in four robberies, two of them involving assault, which took place in Albufeira on June 9th this year.
According to a police statement, "the three suspects, all members of a group, decided to rob passers-by who were walking alone and were unable to defend themselves."
"In the execution of the plan, the suspects approached a man carrying out a cash withdrawal from an ATM and pointed a pistol at him, punched and kicked him, following which they stole €800 in cash "
"They then intercepted a man leaving a late-night establishment and drew a knife, attacked him and forced him to carry out withdrawals at an ATM to a total of €300."
Later, "they approached two men who were walking in the street and robbed them of €20."
The defendants, aged between 19 and 21 years, will be presented to the judicial authorities and a decision taken as to whether they can be bailed.
On Wednesday night, following an action by the Portimão Public Security Police, two foreign women were arrested, and another woman and a man were accused of conspiracy, all of whom were between 20 and 28-years-old.
The suspects were charged with theft at several large chain-stores, and were stopped when trying to evade the officers.
The police recovered several items of clothing and costume jewelry, which they returned to the stores that had been robbed, and also seized various items used in the practice of shoplifting.
Comments
The police reports always say 'foreign' if the accused are anything other than Portuguese so it's safe to assume these gang members are Portuguese.