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RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian police arrested five of their fellow officers on Friday accused of stealing automated teller machines across Rio de Janeiro.
Three police captains, a sergeant and a private were part of a criminal gang that organised the heists over the past few years, Commander Romulo Correa said.
"This gang stains the image of our force," Correa said. Police are looking for other gang members connected with the crimes, he said.
Officials also want to prosecute investigators who once arrested the five policemen after one robbery but later set them free and covered up the colleagues.
During its most notorious robbery, the gang stole five ATMs from the headquarters of Rio's municipal garbage collecting service in 2004.
In a high-profile bid to rid the force of corrupt employees, federal police last week arrested 75 Rio state police officers accused of involvement in drug and arms trafficking.
- REUTERS
