Authorities have arrested members of a criminal ring that systematically robbed dozens of clothing stores across Attica, then shipped the stolen merchandise to Tirana, Albania for resale and substantial profits.
How the clothing theft ring operated between Athens and Tirana
The “clothes hanger gang” appears to have been operating for at least a month, during which time they had stolen hundreds if not thousands of clothing items. Parapolitika.gr reveals exclusive video footage from several stores targeted by the organization, showing their brazen audacity as they shamelessly opened bags and indiscriminately stuffed clothing inside. The criminal network had a 54-year-old woman as its central figure, who employed her son, daughter, and husband, while her sister worked for the same ring in Albania
Clothes hanger gang: Family mafia led by 54-year-old woman – 9 vehicles and bus transport to Albania
According to police sources speaking to parapolitika.gr, eight people have been arrested so far. The clothes hanger ring appears to have been largely a family operation, as
Despite the fact that, as shown in the videos, the organization’s members had no hesitation in barging into stores and almost openly grabbing dozens of hangers and stuffing them into bags, in many cases store managers didn’t notice their presence, with authorities being the ones who informed them about the thefts at their establishments.
The organization’s members would gather at a central point in the Tavros area where they planned their next hit, then used one of their nine operational vehicles to reach their targets. They used different cars each time to confuse police who had been tracking them since last October.
Video evidence of the criminal ring’s operations
It should be noted that both the eight arrested individuals and four others who remain at large have troubled authorities before, and have periodically been found with false identities, fake passports and other documents, aimed at confusing police during checks. The clothes hanger gang therefore had many different faces and names.
Although only €9,000 worth of thefts have been identified so far, police investigation uncovered over €74,000 in cash. Experienced officers involved in the case estimate that the clothes hanger gang may have been operating earlier than last October, and stores that lost significant merchandise either aren’t speaking out of fear or haven’t realized their losses.
Official police statement
A simultaneous operation in Attica and Tirana coordinated by the Northeast Attica Crime Investigation and Detection Subdivision led to the dismantling of a criminal organization whose members committed aggravated thefts of clothing from Attica stores which they resold in a shop in Albania
Eight members of the criminal organization were arrested, including the 54-year-old leader and two family members
Large quantities of stolen clothing were confiscated along with €71,420 in cash
The criminal organization had nine “operational” vehicles for committing thefts
Fourteen cases of aggravated theft were solved
A simultaneous operation in Athens and Tirana coordinated by the Northeast Attica Crime Investigation and Detection Subdivision, with assistance from Albanian authorities, led to the dismantling of a criminal organization whose members committed aggravated thefts of clothing from Attica stores which they resold in a shop in Tirana.
During the operation, eight members of the criminal organization, aged 63 to 33 years, were arrested in the early hours of November 19, 2025 in areas of Attica. Four additional members have been identified and are being sought.
They face charges for establishing and participating in a criminal organization that committed professional, collaborative and continuous aggravated theft, money laundering from criminal activities, and receiving and disposing of crime proceeds.
Regarding the criminal organization’s modus operandi, the accused, at least since mid-October, had established and joined a criminal organization that committed aggravated thefts of clothing items from stores in Attica areas.
The organization’s leader and coordinator of criminal activity was a 54-year-old foreign woman, while four additional family members participated in the organization.
The cross-border criminal organization’s plan included two groups, one in Greece and one in Albania.
The group operating in Greece was responsible for stealing large quantities of merchandise from stores, while the 54-year-old leader was responsible for sending stolen goods, with help from family members, via intercity buses to Tirana where another family member operated a clothing store for resale purposes.
The group operating in Albania’s role was to receive the clothing and sell it through the aforementioned clothing store in Tirana, often posting sales advertisements on social media to find customers.
Organization members assigned to commit thefts would gather in the Tavros area where they planned their actions, then proceed to target stores using one of the organization’s nine “operational” vehicles.
After committing thefts, all stolen goods were collected in a warehouse in the Petralona area for shipment to Albania.
The theft perpetrators committed more than one theft per day, primarily choosing stores selling merchandise without attached anti-theft devices.
Even when merchandise had anti-theft mechanisms, the accused had developed expertise in removing them using special electronic devices and iron magnets.
The perpetrators took anti-surveillance measures both during theft commission and when loading “operational” vehicles with stolen goods, regularly replacing some of their rented “operational” vehicles.
During the operation at the accused’s residences and the organization’s warehouse, the following were found and confiscated:
€71,420 in cash,
large quantities of stolen clothing items,
numerous electronic items and mobile phones,
seven anti-theft removal magnets, and
special device for removing anti-theft security tags.
Additionally, Albanian authorities’ search of the clothing store where stolen clothes were sold in Tirana found numerous stolen garments with Greek language labels and prices in Euros.
The comprehensive preliminary investigation by Northeast Attica Crime Investigation and Detection Subdivision officers has solved 14 aggravated thefts from stores in Maroussi, Agia Paraskevi, Spata, Dafni, Nea Erythraia, Chalandri, Ilion and central Athens.
Notably, several organization members are co-defendants in other store theft cases, while some possessed multiple different identification documents to hinder their identification by authorities.
The arrested individuals were brought before the competent prosecutor.
