Four arrested for stealing more than 45 rear-view cameras from vehicles in Alicante

Four individuals who specialise in the theft of rear-view cameras from vehicles have been arrested for committing at least 45 burglaries in various regions of the city of Alicante.

The National Police was notified of an increase in reports of this type of incident, which prompted an investigation that culminated in the arrest of four individuals between the ages of 34 and 44.

The stolen cameras were distributed throughout Spain and also sent to Algeria and France, where demand is high due to the scarcity of these types of components.

Investigators discovered a consistent pattern in the reported incidents after analysing all the information they had received, which led them to suspect that the burglaries may have been committed by the same individual.

The primary components that were stolen were rearview parking cameras, which are “high-value and easily marketable components.” Their extraction is both discreet and rapid, making them a frequent target for specialised criminal groups.

Surveillance operations resulted in the apprehension of one of the perpetrators during the commission of one of the robberies in the initial instance. The group’s vehicle, which was utilised to transport the stolen products, was also confiscated.

The criminal group’s modus operandi was reconstructed by investigators during the second phase. The investigation revealed that they operated in a coordinated manner, with one member being responsible for monitoring the area, another for removing cameras from parked vehicles, and a third member waiting in the car with the engine running to aid in their escape.

“The detainees’ true objective was to exploit the brand logo, which was situated on the rear of the boot lid, where the parking assistance camera was located,” they clarify.

The investigators were able to locate the remaining three thieves and arrest them for theft and membership in a criminal organisation.

The detainees have been transferred to the Alicante investigating court subsequent to police investigations.