Man arrested for stealing statues from cemeteries in Orihuela and Murcia

A spate of cemetery robberies has hit the Murcia region, including the Orihuela cemetery, which has also been robbed.

The Guardia Civil of the Region of Murcia’s Operation “Coemeterium” has successfully solved robberies at cemeteries in Santomera, Torreagüera, Cabezo de Torres, Zeneta, Cañadas de San Pedro, Sangonera la Verde, and Orihuela. The operation concluded with the arrest of one person suspected of committing 15 charges of burglary.

The investigation resulted in the recovery of almost fifty religious images worth nearly 100,000 euros. Many of them are presently housed at the Torreagüera Guardia Civil Station, awaiting identification by their proper owners.

The investigation began in March, when the proprietors of various pantheons in Torreagüera’s parish cemetery reported the theft of sacred figures and images to the Guardia Civil.

Similar thefts have occurred at cemeteries in Santomera, Cabezo de Torres, Zeneta, Cañadas de San Pedro, and Sangonera La Verde areas in Murcia. Investigators also learnt that the thefts extended to the Orihuela Cemetery.

The alleged perpetrator’s primary goal was to obtain religious figures from “Olot,” a town in Girona that specialises in these types of religious sculptures, which have recently become collector’s goods, raising their value dramatically in specialised markets.

The officers set out to collect the stolen items not just for their monetary value but also for their sentimental value. One of the key goals was to recover the stolen parts. One of the stolen photographs was 150 years old.

The Guardia Civil contacted various collectors of this style of work, resulting in a considerable rise in purchasing and selling activity since the thefts began.

A thorough examination of numerous batches of pieces circulating in specialised circles resulted in the identification of 52 stolen figures.

The Guardia Civil returned 16 when they were found, while another 36 are still in the Torreagüera Civil Guard post awaiting identification and repatriation to their respective owners.

Operation “Coemeterium” ended with the arrest of a 49-year-old Murcia man suspected of committing 15 crimes of burglary.

Finally, the Guardia Civil has issued an appeal to the public: if you have been a victim of this type of robbery, please visit the Guardia Civil barracks in Torreagüera or phone 968 874 760.