The Limassol Criminal Investigation Department has deployed undercover police officers posing as food delivery drivers in an effort to dismantle gangs of robbers who operate mainly at night, attacking food delivery drivers—often beating them up before stealing whatever valuables they have on them.
This was stated during his appearance on the “Alpha News” program by Lefteris Kyriakou, Assistant Chief of Police Operations in Limassol, in response to the latest attack on a moped driver that occurred yesterday.
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The 20-year-old foreign national, twenty minutes past midnight, was riding his moped in the Mesa Geitonia area when two individuals walking on the street blocked his path and, threatening him with a knife, demandedthat he hand over his motorcycle. When the 20-year-old refused, one of the suspects attacked him and knocked him to the ground, while the second suspect stole the motorcycle and fled on it. Subsequently, the first suspect stole the money the 20-year-old had on him and fled on foot.
“We have a description regarding their ages and what they were wearing. It happened on a side street, not a main one, but we’re searching the area for surveillance footage that might help us,”
However, as Mr. Kyriakou noted, the victim in this case was not a food delivery driver, and this incident does not appear to be linked to other recent cases in Limassol.
Mr. Kyriakou acknowledged that there has recently been a surge in attacks on food delivery drivers, which is why an operation has been launched to implement preventive measures, such as patrols and targeted checks. At the same time, contact has been made with neighborhood police officers, and there have also been discussions with food delivery drivers so that they, too, can take certain precautions.
He emphasized that it is important for the police that the victim file a report as quickly as possible, because any delay makes the investigation much more difficult later on.
As part of efforts to combat this phenomenon, said the Assistant Chief of Police Operations in Limassol, an investigative team has been formed from members of the Limassol Criminal Investigation Department, who are reviewing all cases to identify common patterns, common modus operandi, and other evidence that will help identify the perpetrators.
However, based on the mapping of the attacks carried out so far, it does not appear that the attacks are concentrated in a specific area but rather in various ones, he added, before acknowledging that, as part of the coordination among law enforcement agencies, even undercover police officers have been deployed on food delivery scooters to patrol dangerous areas.
READ ALSO: Attack on a 20-year-old motorcyclist at midnight in Limassol | AlphaNews Live – YouTube
