Four men who are believed to have stolen from more than 50 cigarette machines across the Algarve were arrested by PSP and GNR police in a successful joint operation.
Police caught the group red-handed while robbing a restaurant in Almancil recently. The men fled the scene when they became aware of the approaching police but the authorities caught up with them in Olhão and proceeded with the arrests.
The group is believed to have stolen from cigarette machines in Faro, Olhão, Tavira, Loulé and Silves.
Among the confiscated items were 1,700 cigarette packs, as well as a number of electronic devices.
