The Intervention Unit, through the Information and Criminal Investigation Section, today detained, in Lisbon and Évora, four women and three men, aged between 26 and 63 years old, suspected of 197 crimes of robbery and theft.

The arrests took place following the investigation of several criminal offenses that occurred in 13 districts in the national territory, namely Aveiro, Braga, Castelo Branco, Évora, Faro, Guarda, Lisbon, Portalegre, Santarém, Setúbal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real and Viseu.

The suspects are indicted in 197 crimes, namely 63 for robbery, 102 for qualified theft, 23 for simple theft and nine for violence after the theft, in which the victims were predominantly elderly people, in a vulnerable situation, and are usually alone in the their dwellings.

As of today, 12 home search warrants have been carried out and, as part of this investigation, 14 people had previously been detained, of which ten are in preventive detention and three with presentations at the police station in the area of ​​residence.

The detainees remain on the premises of this Guard and will be present at the Court of Sintra, tomorrow, February 20, for the first judicial interrogation and application of enforcement measures.

The operation included the reinforcement of the Criminal Investigation Department of GNR, the Territorial Commands of GNR in Lisbon, Setúbal, Santarém and Évora, as well as the Public Security Police in the areas of responsibility where the proceedings took place (Lisbon and Évora).