Year: 2016

On 10^th August the PSP arrested four men, between 17 and 21 years in connection with 27 robberies.

The group always attacked together and chose young, fragile and isolated victims. They are believed to have carried out at least 27 robberies with threats of aggression, knives and even syringes. The crimes occurred in trains, stations on the Cascais line and near schools. The robbers threaten victims not to make complaints to police.

According to information provided the attacks started at the start of the year. The first complaints came to the PSP in February and following the viewing of video surveillance at train stations, and the accounts of victims and witnesses.

On 10^th August at 7:00 a.m., the PSP conducted five searches in Cascais neighbourhood and arrested four suspects. It is not ruled out that there is at least one other who has not been caught. Knives were seized, daggers, a saber and a bat and hashish. They still had a camera and a mobile phone that is suspected to have been stolen.

According to the PSP, the thefts occurred “mainly on trains and railway stations on the route to Cascais, as well as at schools in the vicinity.” The victims were chosen not to offer resistance. The thieves threatened the victims with bladed weapons, aggression and reached the point where syringes, which said that infected were involved. They stole money, mobile phones and goods they could sell quickly.

Feeling persecuted, the robbers later approached some of the victims, trying to force them to withdraw complaints in PSP.

Detainees are under detention and will appear in court in Cascais today.

 

The National Republican Guard (GNR) has engaged at this time 500 personnel of the Protection and Relief Intervention Group (GIPS) in actions to combat forest fires, divided into the following various areas.

So far in August some 462 GIPS personnel have been airlifted by helicopters to combat 195 fires. Since the beginning of the year there were 1716 helicopter missions to combat and extinguish the early stage of 894 fires.

It has been confirmed that three people have died in the Madeira fires.

At least 37 homes in the historic area have been burned.

According to the updated information and available by IPMA, it is noted for the next 48 hours the persistence of conditions associated with hot, dry weather, aggravated by the strengthening of wind. In particular:

On 3^rd August the PSP Lisbon Metropolitan Police Command arrested a 25 year woman suspected of drug trafficking in the area of São Domingos de Benfica, in Lisbon

The arrest was a result of an approach made to the woman, who was acting suspiciously and was about to leave for the Algarve, intending to distribute narcotics, taking advantage of the summer season.

The following items were seized from a bag she was carrying: 1830 single doses of suspected be cocaine; 1836 single doses of suspected heroin; 120 grams of an unidentified product; Euros 45 in cash and three bus tickets.

She has a criminal record and has appeared in court to be remanded in custody.

The GNR criminal investigation unit of Évora arrested, on 5 August, a person suspected of drug trafficking. This followed a search of the person’s home in which the following were seized

The action involved a search of the suspect’s house which allowed seize: 189 doses of cocaine; 41 doses of heroin, one vehicle; a mobile phone; a tablet; an alarm gun and 39 rounds of ammunition.

The individual appeared in court having been placed in preventive detention in Beja prison.

The Judicial Police, through the Northern Board, have identified and arrested a man for alleged attempted aggravated theft at bank branches in Guimarães. The incidents occurred on 28^th July and yesterday when the defendant used a replica firearm and covered their faces with handkerchiefs and a surgical mask. The first crime was unsuccessful because the bank did not have money on its premise and the second failed because bank officials immediately contacted the police. The arrested person 41 – year-old, unemployed, with no criminal record, will be present at the first court hearing for the application of enforcement measures.

On 1^st August, workers at “Rent-a-car” in Lisbon discovered a €50 bank note in a vehicle returned to them. The hirer returned the vehicle at around 1900 hrs and paid for the hire. Subsequently when the car was cleaned the counterfeit note was found. Attempts to contact the hirer, reportedly from the Central African Republic, using his mobile contact number failed. The case is being investigated by the Judicial Police.

On Monday 1^st August a van carrying tobacco was ambushed by four persons in possession of firearms. The driver is not believed to have been injured but an undetermined amount of tobacco and cash was stole. The case is being investigated by the Judicial Police.

More than 500 children have been identified as potential victims of online sexual abuse during a major investigation by Police Scotland. The force said 30 million indecent images were seized and 77 people had been charged during Operation Lattise.

The charges include rape, sharing indecent images of children and grooming for sexual purposes. Of the 523 potential victims, some as young as three, 122 have been referred to child protection services.

The operation, which involved 134 separate investigations, was carried out between the 6 June and 15 July.

Police said child victims had been found after the homes of 83 suspects were searched and 547 computers and other devices seized during the five-week operation.

‘Horrific acts’

Almost 400 charges have been brought so far, including rape, sharing indecent images of children, grooming for sexual purposes, sexual extortion, indecent communication with children, possession of a firearm, bestiality and drugs offences.

In one instance, a computer that featured 10 million images depicting child abuse was found. Police Scotland said it would take four full-time officers six months just to view the number of images uncovered.

The investigation involved officers analysing in excess of 100,000 online chat logs.

Examination of one device led officers to conclude that one adult suspect had been sexually communicating with more than 110 children and young people.

Det Insp Andy McWilliam, who was also involved in the investigation, said that new technology meant there was no way for perpetrators to hide or erase what they had done online.

He said: “Whether they throw the computer in the bath or not, we can find what they have looked at. And we can use covert technology to identify who you are and where you are.