Teenager abducted Roma babies because he “didn’t like gypsies”

Α 17-year-old has been arrested and sent to prison for abductions of Roma babies in Athens. He claimed to police his goal was to “punish” Roma families because they did not take good care of their children.

Furthermore, he cited psychological problems

Police arrested the teenager last Wednesday, after a Roma mother filed to police in Piraeus that a young man had abducted her baby. He had offered her to buy milk for the baby and they went together to a supermarket. she was supposed to watch over the baby, while the mother was checking for the and she handed the baby to him in order to check for the formula. He had disappeared with the baby.

The infant was found abandoned a few hours later in a suburb of Athens, some 10 km away.

However, CCTV cameras inside and outside the supermarket in Kaminia suburb of Piraeus had captured the perpetrator.

Video

Η στιγμή που ο 17χρονος αρπάζει το μωρό στα Καμίνια pic.twitter.com/MCMB30QVxa

— iEidiseis.gr (@iEidiseisGR) September 4, 2025

The minor criminal was identified after he used his credit card and this connected him to another abduction of a Roma newborn in last May.

With the same trick, the suspect had abducted the few-day-old baby from his grandmother in Omonia Square in central Athens and the baby was later found abandoned next to a garbage bin in the suburb of Alimos, approximately ten kilometers away.

He faces felony charges for the serial abduction and exposure of minors to danger. Before the investigator, he reportedly claimed psychiatric problems, which will however be evaluated with the possible conduct of a psychiatric expert examination.

After his arrest, he told police that he abducted the babies because “I don’t like gypsies” and because “I wanted to show how useless they are.”

Investigator and prosecutor decided to remand him in custody.

In the past, the 17-year-old had allegedly also appeared as a bus controller, collecting money from passengers.

Arrested was also his father who was later set free, however, he will be tried for neglecting a minor.

Speaking to media, the grandmother of the first abducted baby said that she wanted it back. After the abduction, the grandmother was tried for “negligence of a minor” and sent to prison, while the baby was given to social services. The woman had the custody of the newborn.

PS I can recall that when the first baby was abducted several media suggested it had to do with a failed illegal children trafficking.

It’s tough to be a member of the Roma community here – and possibly everywhere. You’re victim of prejudice, no matter what.