Six arrested on suspicion of burglary at abandoned mansion left frozen in time by Greek tycoon
SIX people have been arrested on suspicion of burglary at an abandoned mansion left frozen in time by a Greek tycoon who used to leave bundles of cash lying around.
The arrests came days after the mysterious owner and mansion were catapulted into the limelight by the bizarre story.
Neighbours said they were worried about what would happen to the mansion in Bucks Hill after its owner moved out.
The house has now been sealed off to trespassers after it was discovered by an "urban explorer".
Tycoon Athanasios Tachmintzis, 70, led such a mysterious life his brother-in-law wasn't even sure what he did for work – despite seeing wads of cash at his lavish home.
Gordon Meiklejohn told The Sun Online he liked "big houses, flash cars and the smartest clothes" but claims it was "all for show".
He said Mr Tachmintzis, known as Thanos, would rent luxury cars to impress his family but would drive an "old banger" when he got home.
Neighbours have wondered what caused Mr Tachmintzis to flee the house – leaving furniture, ornaments, designers clothes, a Bentley and even a game of chess on the table.
A watch stuck in time was seen on a bedside table, while designer clothes bearing the labels Yves St Laurent, Gucci and Louis Vuitton were stacked up on rails in a bedroom.
Mr Meiklejohn told The Sun Online: "I’ve known him for more than 40 years and he has always been the same.
“He’s always liked the big houses, the flash cars and the smartest clothes – he's all show.
“The luxury Mercedes cars he drove were always hired to impress for a couple of days when he visited family.
“But when he got back home he’d drive around in an old banger.
“Before he moved in to this house in King’s Langley he lived in a much more impressive mansion near Bournemouth."
Mr Meiklejohn, a retired patent specialist now living in Carmarthenshire, South West Wales, said he first met Mr Tachmintzis in the late 1970s, shortly after he started dating the Greek businessman’s sister-in-law Mandy Rees, as she was then named.
Mr Tachmintzis was living with wife Sharon and their young family in St John’s Wood, North London, in a council flat.
Mr Meiklejohn recalled: "If you asked him what he did for a living he'd always mumble that he was in property but I never saw him to do a day’s work in his life.
"I was aware his father, who had an admin job at the Greek Embassy, had a few properties around North London and I think it’s possible Thanos was involved there.
"But he certainly didn’t have a property business in the conventional sense and he never seemed to go to an office to work.
"I visited The house in King’s Langley with Mandy a couple of times years ago, not long after he’d moved in after his time in Bournemouth.
"Well, this property looked impressive from the outside, but inside it was very ordinary – cheap furniture and fixtures and fittings that were very basic.
"I had no time for him but because he was family I’d always do my best to get along with him."
It is understood the tycoon's wife, Sharon, died aged 52 in May 2004 following a 32-year marriage.
The couple had three sons Alexis, 43, Nicholas, 41, and Paul, 36, as well as daughters Kiristiana, 34, and 28-year-old Alicia.
One villager told the Watford Observer that people "were worried" about what would happen to the mansion "now that the story is out in the open".
Hertfordshire Constabulary confirmed it was called to two separate incidents on May 21.
Police were first called to reports of suspicious activity at the property on the evening at 9.40pm.
Officers attended and arrested two men, aged 26 and 44 from Hemel Hempstead, on suspicion of attempted burglary.
The 26-year-old man remains in custody at this time. The 44-year-old man has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.
Later the same evening, police were called again at 11.51pm to reports of further suspicious activity at the same property.
Officers attended and arrested four people.
They all remain in police custody.
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