Pafos Press 1 November 2024
As part of their activity, the members of the Paphos district bicycle police made 47 out-of-court complaints in October, according to Paphos Assistant Police Director of Operations Michalis Nikolaou.
Instatements to the KYPE, Mr. Nikolaou stated that in the same month the members of the bicycle police in Paphos offered assistance to the public in 18 cases, carried out security measures during 9 events, carried out 14 stops and checks of suspicious persons and provided 16 cases of assistance to other departments and services of ADE Pafos.
They also provided advice to owners of shops and other premises on security measures for their property, gave advice to locals and tourists when needed and carried out checks in car parks to prevent car windows from being broken and stolen from them.
During October, the members of the bicycle police continued to police the wider Geroskipou area to prevent crime, on foot patrols in the commercial sector of the city, in checking beaches in cooperation with the lifeguards on duty, as well as providing assistance to the Paphos Minor Offenses Department . They even proceeded to place a guard at the main gate of the Paphos ADE, and also to examine the phone calls for the purposes of answering citizen hotline issues.
* * * * * *
Filenews
Computer-related fraud and extortion of money is being investigated by the ICF of Limassol with a 76-year-old victim.
Specifically, on 31/10/2024, a 76-year-old woman reported to the Cybercrime Investigation Office of the ICF Limassol that between the dates 25/06/2024 and 20/09/2024, she was a victim of computer-related fraud and a total of €145,000 was stolen from her bank accounts held in commercial banks.
On 15/05/2024, through the What's Up app, she contacted an unknown man, whose Facebook post she previously read. An online relationship developed between them, and he, pretending to be a UN major serving in Syria, convinced her under various pretexts and sent the above amount through ten money transfers to various bank accounts indicated to her in foreign countries
* * * * * *
Police arrested three people yesterday as part of a coordinated operation carried out in cooperation with the SBA Police.
They are men, aged 54, 48 and 41, who were arrested on court warrants and detained.
The operation was conducted in relation to 28 cases of generator thefts, which were committed between August 2023 and 20/10/2024, on a nationwide scale.
During the operation, 20 generators, 14 metal grids and a tractor were found at the premises and vehicles of the arrested persons, in the districts of Larnaka and the free area of Famagusta, which appear to be stolen.
The coordinated operation involved members of the ICF of Nicosia, Larnaka, Famagusta, Kofinou Police Station, as well as the SBA Police.
Today, the three arrested are expected to appear before a court for a detention order.
The ICF of Larnaca continues the examinations.
* * * * * *
The Limassol District Court sentenced yesterday an 18-year-old defendant to ten months in prison for an assault and robbery case committed at the end of August in Limassol.
The offences were committed between 28 and 29 August, involving a food delivery victim whom the defendant robbed at work.
The ICF of Limassol after a complaint by the victim and intensive investigations, managed to locate and arrest the 18-year-old, who was brought before the court. The court found the defendant guilty of the charges of assault and robbery, imposing a prison sentence of 10 months.
* * * * *
A large operation was underway last night by the ICFs of Larnaka, Famagusta and Nicosia, as well as the British Bases, to identify persons who appear to be involved in a series of thefts and burglaries, from all districts, of objects such as generators and photovoltaics.
According to Filenews' information from the coordinated police operation that took place in various areas, three persons have been arrested so far, one in the free areas of Famagusta and two in Larnaca.
These three persons are expected to be brought tomorrow to the Larnaca District Court for detention orders.
So far, more than 20 generators, photovoltaic panels and other items have been found which are being investigated if they are products of thefts made in previous months.
Information indicates that the suspects are allegedly involved in a network selling the stolen items.
Update: Unbelievable is the months-long action of the gang that grabbed generators, photovoltaics, batteries and not only from fields, fenced areas, warehouses and cottages, while even hitting mobile phone companies. In the district of Larnaka alone, 28 complaints were made in the last year, with the stolen items worth many tens of thousands of euros. Similar cases were reported nationwide and reportedly in 2024 alone, 7 generators were stolen from mobile phone companies.
It is recalled that the Police arrested in the case, following a coordinated operation with the British Bases, three persons 54, 48 and 41 years old, who were detained for six days by the Larnaca District Court.
The court was told police arrested the suspects after information that a 41-year-old and a 48-year-old man from Larnaka district were involved in the case, allegedly motivated by a 54-year-old farmer to steal generators which he then bought at a low price. The farmer has a packing plant and fields in land controlled by BB, but also in areas of Greece. Famagusta. A total of 28 generators were found on his premises, some of which resemble the stolen ones. He admitted to buying generators from the other two, claiming he didn't steal anything.
However, the attacks on warehouses and premises of private mobile phone companies are impressive, from which mainly generators were stolen, one of which was 1,000 kilos. In one case, the perpetrators stole last April a ... mobile phone antenna;
The action of the generator ring began last December and every month from January 2024 until a few days ago there were reports of thefts of generators, photovoltaics, batteries, a tractor, lawnmowers, tools, and even a shotgun and a crane.
The ICF of Larnaca is conducting examinations to identify the rest of the stolen property, as well as investigations to determine if other people are involved in the unprecedented case.
* * * * * *
A 22-year-old man was identified and arrested yesterday by members of the Police, pursuant to a court warrant, who was wanted in connection with a number of investigated cases of building burglaries and thefts, committed in Ayia Napa and Paralimni, in September, 2024.
According to a police bulletin, the 22-year-old was located and arrested at noon today, Thursday, October 31, 2024, in Nicosia.
In connection with the cases under investigation, three other persons were arrested on 15 October. Two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old were arrested, who admitted to committing a total of eight burglaries and thefts, committed in Ayia Napa and Paralimni, between September 08 and October 11. The cases are being investigated by the Famagusta ICF.
* * * * * *
The Larnaca Permanent Assize Court yesterday imposed an 11-year prison sentence on two women, aged 20 and 22, who were found guilty on charges related to importing a Class B controlled drug and illegal possession of a Class B controlled drug, i.e. more than 41 kilos of cannabis.
According to the facts of the case, the two women arrived on June 19, at Larnaka airport, on a flight from Bangkok via the United Arab Emirates.
Officers of the Department of Customs and Excise proceeded to a radiodiagnostic and physical inspection of the 4 luggage of the two women, where a total of 70 airtight packages with green dry plant matter (cannabis) with a total weight of 41 kg and 96 grams were found.
The quantity of drugs was confiscated and the passengers were arrested for a flagrant offence.
Today, the Assize Court sentenced each defendant to 11 years in prison for each charge they faced, with the sentences still coming.
The case had been investigated by the Larnaka District Unit of YKAN.
* * * * * *
A woman who went to Central Prison this morning to visit a prisoner was caught with drugs and a mobile phone.
Philenews reports that the illegal items were found during her check before she entered the visiting room to meet with a convict.
In a body search, it appears that staff found a small amount of drugs and a cell phone. After this development, the YKAN was notified, which received both the visitor and the illegal items for further investigation.
Prisons have recently implemented strict measures to control entrants, while a bill is being promoted that will criminalize the transport of drugs and mobile phones to prisoners, with severe penalties.
* * * * * *
Cyprus Police
Members of the Police proceeded to arrest a 33-year-old man, as part of an investigation into a case of drug trafficking, and illegal possession of a firearm, which were found after a search of the 34-year-old's residence, carried out by members of the Police in Paphos, last May. The case is being investigated by the Anti-Narcotics Service - YCAN (Paphos Provincial Unit), in collaboration with the Paphos TAE. Specifically, as part of the investigation into the case of illegal possession of drugs with the purpose of supplying another person, evidence against the 33-year-old emerged. A judicial arrest warrant was issued against him, pursuant to which he was arrested around 1:00 yesterday afternoon and taken into custody for the purposes of police examinations. The investigation into the case began after the discovery of a quantity of cannabis with a gross weight of 10 kilograms and 71 grams, as well as a loaded firearm, at the residence of another suspect, a 34-year-old man, on May 7. The 34-year-old had been stopped for a check by members of YKAN, while he was driving a car in the area of Paphos. Based on a court warrant, a search of the 34-year-old's residence followed, where members of the Police found the quantity of cannabis and the loaded firearm. The 34-year-old was arrested and taken into custody. Detection and seizure of 10 kg of cannabis and a loaded firearm – 34-year-old man arrested From the laboratory tests carried out, it was established that the amount of cannabis found weighs nine kilograms and 299 grams.
* * * * * *
