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> Greece

Mykonos thieves busted: Burying stolen loot like Escobar — See photos

A brazen gang of thieves turned the glamorous island of Mykonos into their playground, pulling off a string of luxury villa burglaries before hiding their loot underground in true Pablo Escobar style

Newsroom August 22 04:28

A brazen gang of thieves turned the glamorous island of Mykonos into their playground, pulling off a string of luxury villa burglaries before hiding their loot underground in true Pablo Escobar style.

According to Greek police, four Albanian nationals aged 21, 24, 25 and 36 were arrested after a coordinated operation. They face serious felony charges for aggravated theft and participation in a criminal organization.

Luxury villas targeted across Mykonos

The gang is linked to at least 10 burglaries and 3 attempted break-ins between August 6–7 and August 16–20, 2025. Their targets were high-end holiday villas in popular areas including Elia, Chalara, Agrari, Lino, Paraga and Skalado.

The stolen goods? Cash, gold, jewelry, luxury watches, and valuables worth over €130,000.

Quad bikes, night raids & secret hiding spots

What made the case remarkable was the method. The gang used rented quad bikes (ATVs) — known in Greece as “γουρούνες” — to move around discreetly.

At night, they prowled tourist hotspots, breaking into villas through unlocked doors or by forcing open balcony windows. But instead of keeping the loot in apartments or trying to smuggle it out immediately, they dug secret stashes in rocky crevices across Mykonos.

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Inside these makeshift hideouts, they buried not just the stolen valuables but also their tools: caps, gloves and scarves used to cover their faces. The strategy, reminiscent of cartel tactics, made it harder for authorities to track them — until their eventual arrest.

Police takedown

Authorities eventually tracked down the suspects and seized evidence linking them to the high-profile burglaries. The arrests bring relief to Mykonos locals and international visitors, as the island has faced repeated concerns over luxury theft rings targeting wealthy tourists.

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