Costa Blanca

Following a robbery in Alicante, a gang that had stolen from homes in Spain, France, and Italy are arrested

Following an investigation into a robbery in Alicante where the perpetrators used keys they had previously stolen from the owner while he was in a Benidorm water park, the National Police have dismantled a criminal organisation that specialises in home invasions in several Spanish provinces, France, and Italy.

Four men of Chilean and Colombian nationality, ages 39 to 46, were taken into custody by Alicante investigators in Barcelona as part of the police investigation. As accused of committing public health violations, car theft, burglary, and membership in a criminal organisation, three of them were imprisoned. The inmates were found to have 2.3 kilogrammes of cocaine and over a hundred expensive watches.

After a robbery occurred in an Alicante home, the inquiry was started since the robbers were able to enter without breaking the lock.

According to investigations, the accused criminals had stolen the keys to a house in a Benidorm water park before moving on to the victim’s Alicante residence to complete the heist.

The offenders used the victim, a man who was enjoying the day with his family at the Benidorm park, to steal the keys to his house when he left his rucksack unsecured on one of the sun loungers while he went swimming.

The victim was unaware that the crime had occurred until he got home and discovered that the only missing items were the keys he carried in his rucksack.

Thieves were located
The perpetrators of this robbery were identified by investigators, who also verified that they were a well-organised criminal organisation with prior criminal experience in this kind of crime and a clear and efficient method of operation that was primarily centred on stealing from cars or directly from people. They obtained the keys and addresses of the homes, then proceeded to the residences and used the “false key” method to complete the crime.

They used a variety of methods to get inside the homes, including forcing the security features, utilising the slip method, or even using their own keys that they had previously taken.

Excellent mobility in France, Italy, and Spain
Their involvement in at least seven car-jackings in the provinces of Zaragoza, Burgos, and Madrid was discovered over the course of the inquiry. In two of these cases, they proceeded to the victims’ houses with the keys and robbed them.

Additionally, it was proven that the suspects frequently travelled to France, where they used the same method of operation to perpetrate crimes.

As a result of the actions performed thus far, investigators travelled from Alicante to Barcelona, where they discovered two homes that served as hiding locations for the suspects and the stolen goods.

More than 100 luxury watches, jewellery, consoles, and handbags from well-known brands were seized after a search and seizure request resulted in the arrest of four males and the discovery of items taken during the thefts. Two cars, 2,300 grammes of cocaine, and 1,500 euros in cash were also taken into custody.

Investigators were able to accuse the inmates with crimes perpetrated in the European cities of France and Italy as well as the provinces of Alicante, Zaragoza, Burgos, and Madrid after the homes were searched and evidence was found.

Three of the detainees were ordered to be sent to prison after the police processes were concluded and they were hauled before a Barcelona court.

Measures were conducted to ascertain the origin of the confiscated objects, some of which were able to be returned to their owners and coincided with the robberies under investigation.

More people who could have taken part in the events under investigation could still be arrested as part of the ongoing inquiry.

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Related Topics:Alicante Arrest Barcelona Benidorm Cars Cocaine Court Crime Health Italy Luxury Madrid Mobility National People Police Public Robberies Robbery Spain Theft

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Costa Blanca

Missing Persons Association searching for Stiven, 26, who disappeared from Elche

The SOS Missing Persons Association has issued an urgent alert concerning the disappearance of Stiven Manrique Penagos, a 26-year-old man who vanished on April 18, 2025, in Elche, Alicante.

Stiven is of typical build, stands at a height of approximately 1.70/1.72 metres, and has dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. Due to his vulnerability, they have prioritised his disappearance, and they are requesting public assistance to locate him as soon as possible.

The organisation is urgently looking to hear from anyone with any information of his whereabouts.

If anyone has information regarding his whereabouts, please contact info@sosdesaparecidos.es or call 649 952 957 and 617 126 909.

Regarding SOS Missing Persons

Sosdesaparecidos is a non-profit association established in Caravaca de la Cruz that collaborates in the dissemination of information about missing persons of any age whose families do not know what happened or where they are.

The goal of the 32 men and women on the SOSdesaparecidos team is to assist families by utilising their personal and professional experiences.

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Costa Blanca

Alicante TRAM collected 2,494 lost objects in 2024

Last year, Alicante TRAM passengers lost a total of 2,494 objects, which the Valencian Railways (FGV) collected. This data suggests that passengers abandon an average of seven artefacts daily and 208 objects monthly. These objects are stored at the stations for a minimum of one month and for an additional month in the lost property storage facility at Luceros station. The Alicante Local Police then receive the items if their proprietors have not claimed them after this period.

Wallets and purses, keys, backpacks, documents (ID, passports, driving licences, health cards, etc.), mobile phones, spectacles, folders, umbrellas, and handbags are the items that are seen on trains and trams in Alicante and its metropolitan area the most frequently.

October (442), January (393), November (378), June (366), March (308), April (303), August (296), July (291), May (286), December (276), February (263), and September (199) were the months in which the most items went missing, proceeding with the division by season.

The recovery of an object by its owner while it is registered with FGV amounts to 929, or 37.25%, thanks to the protocols established by FGV for the management and safekeeping of lost objects. The remaining percentage is either handed over to the Alicante Local Police or taken to a recycling centre or green point if the objects are clearly worn or deteriorated.

The time required to retrieve an item is contingent upon the presence of any identifying information or the customer’s claim. When there’s identifying information or a customer’s claim, we often recover the item the same day it goes missing, especially if it’s valuable.

Steps to be taken

In the initial phase, lost property is dropped off and picked up at the stations served by FGV personnel before being transferred to the central office at Luceros station.

After one month, the items are collected and transported to the lost property facility at Luceros station to attempt to identify their owner, deregister them for recycling based on their condition, or deliver them to the Alicante Lost Property Office after an additional month.

They promptly hand over official documents, such as passports and ID cards, to the authorities to determine their owner, then destroy bank cards to mitigate unnecessary risks and prevent tampering. Customer service personnel conduct follow-up and minor investigations to ensure their return to the police.

Amazing objects

In addition to the previously mentioned items, there are several remarkable items that it’s hard to imagine users would overlook. These items include bicycles, scooters, suitcases, crutches, walking sticks, laptops, tablets, baby strollers, shopping carts, motorcycle helmets, portable refrigerators, toiletry bags, umbrellas, hair dryers, X-rays, prescriptions, medical reports, a construction shovel, a shower telephone, and even a toilet seat or fire extinguisher.

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Costa Blanca

Firefighters rescue hiker after fracturing her leg in fall in Dénia

Members of the Provincial Fire Consortium rescued a 40-year-old woman on Monday, April 21st, on the climb to Cova del Aigua in Dénia after she fractured her leg in a fall while hiking.

The alert was received at around 12:48 p.m., and an Alpha 01 rescue helicopter and the Special Rescue Group (GER) were dispatched to the scene, the Consortium said in a statement.

Since the woman was at a point where the ambulance could not reach due to the terrain, the rescue helicopter was activated with the GER.

Once located, the officers disembarked from the helicopter and brought her back to San Vicente Park, where an ambulance was waiting. The operation ended at 4:04 p.m.