Masked and gloved robbers who threatened their victims with a gun and a knife have been caught by the Loulé GNR.
In an eight hour rampage two men, masked and armed with a handgun and a knife, robbed a petrol station in Albufeira and later attempted to pull the same trick at the Pingo Doce in Quarteira.
The less than bright robbers were caught by GNR officers from Loulé and Quarteira after leaving the supermarket empty handed. In both cases the target was the safe.
The first assault at the Galp station in Fontainhas occurred at 23.00 on Sunday night. The two men, both aged 23, entered the payment area and pointed a gun at the employees who were forced to give up the money that was in the safe - an undisclosed amount but thought to be many thousands of euros. The robbers also stole tobacco and, rather stupidly, a company car.
Once given the warning, the GNR immediately mounted an operation to locate the stolen vehicle and arrest the assailants. The car was found at dawn on Monday in Vilamoura, not far from a Pingo Doce outlet.
At 07.00 a.m. the two men held up the supermarket staff, demanding that they open the safe. Their luck has run out as the early morning staff had neither the safe keys or access to the area where the safe was kept. The thieves fled empty-handed into the arms of waiting officers.
The regional Commander of the GNR confirmed the robbery and the arrest of suspects but declined to give further details of the two cases, it is Christmas time and he probably is far too busy.
