National police units dismantled acriminal syndicate believed to specialize in forcibly stealing cash from ATMs, employing the so‑called “Pizza Slide” method, also known as the pizza maker paddle. This tactic uses a handmade explosive in the cash slot of an ATM to breach the machine and access the money inside. Seven suspects were arrested, with four accused of forced robbery, conspiracy, vandalism, license plate theft, document forgery, assault on an authority figure, and resulting injuries in the provinces of Córdoba, Málaga, and Almería. They were placed in temporary custody.
The National Police stated in a press release that nine robberies were solved—eight in the Granada, Córdoba, Málaga, and Almería regions, and one in Badajoz. Operations involved seven searches and seizures, leading to the seizure of two explosive devices, assorted materials intended for immediate use, long‑gun ammunition, and cash.
The investigation began last September after a robbery at a bank branch in Motril, Granada. The perpetrators inserted an explosive substance through the ATM’s cash dispenser and stole roughly 40,000 euros, while causing substantial damage to the business’s structure.
‘Pizza’
A hallmark of these forced robberies was the use of an improvised explosive device. A square metal container or bottle resembling a flask containing gunpowder was inserted into the ATM via a metal rod screwed into the bottle, creating what operatives described as the “pizza chef’s shovel.” The device was wired with long cables to a remote detonator for activation.
The group’s explosive material included widely used pyrotechnic gunpowder, which was modified and pressed into shape to form the explosive component of the robbery tool.
Father and son
Investigations enabled authorities to profile the attackers and document the techniques used to execute the robberies. A crime map was prepared detailing alleged attacks attributed to a father and his son, both members of a criminal organization with operations across several provinces and based in Córdoba. A third person is believed to have led the assaults, while a fourth member in Córdoba and Almería allegedly participated in certain attacks. The gang obtained high‑end rental vehicles and used license‑plate switching to avoid detection.
Researchers also charted how the organization functioned, using intermediaries to exploit others’ needs. The so‑called “straw man” or “bomb” operatives allowed real identities to be used to rent cars and sign insurance policies, with three individuals identified as performing these roles.
At the final stage of the investigation, authorities determined the network planned to file another criminal complaint by the end of January this year and contemplated escalating violence. Investigators allege the group leader instructed a member based in Almería to procure short‑barrel firearms, long guns, grenades, and bulletproof vests, which were meant for future operations.
Once all network members were located, a coordinated operation led to the arrest of seven individuals: four suspected robbers in Córdoba and Almería, and three intermediaries in Almería and Málaga. Seven residences, six in Córdoba and one in Almería, were searched. The operation yielded two ready‑to‑use explosives, ammunition for long‑guns, essential accessories for the attacks, and 1,000 euros in cash.
The investigation also clarified nine ATM robberies involving explosives across Motril and Puerta Lope‑Moclín in Granada, Villa del Río in Córdoba, Azuaga in Badajoz, and in the cities of Almería, Córdoba, Huelva, and two locations in Málaga. Four of the nine involved suspects were referred to the courts and remanded in custody.