Tools stolen from the San Juan Beach fire station

The Alicante National Police are looking into the theft of various tools that occurred early yesterday morning, Wednesday May 21st, at the Ildefonso Prats Fire Station in Playa San Juan. This robbery is linked to organised gang members who use professional equipment to break into ATMs and safes in enterprises and commercial institutions, as well as open doors, among other goals.

The stolen tools are those used by firefighters in traffic accidents to extricate trapped victims, and they have a high financial value. Last year, a similar theft occurred at the Provincial Fire Consortium station in San Vicente del Raspeig, with the stolen equipment valued at roughly €40,000. The group accused of the heist, which was of Kosovar Albanian background, was dismantled last March in the province of Alicante and charged with more than forty thefts.

On Wednesday, the head of the Fire Prevention, Extinction, and Rescue Service (SPEIS) filed a theft report at the police station, and the Forensic Police responded to the fire station on Avenida Locutor Vicente Hipólito to conduct a visual inspection of the facilities and seek any evidence that could lead to the identification of the perpetrators.

The theft was detected early yesterday morning, although the time and number of people involved are unknown. Municipal sources confirmed the theft of various tools, reporting their discovery inside SPEIS cars parked in the park.

The thieves stole equipment from many parked vehicles, notably the one used for accident response. This vehicle is outfitted with hydraulic tools and other equipment for rescuing people trapped in traffic accidents or other incidents. A rescue spreader was among the stolen gear, along with battery chargers.

An assessment of the facilities revealed that the attackers got entry by climbing over the wall above the TRAM tracks, after breaking through the security fence. Once they entered the park’s courtyard, the attackers went to the vehicle garage and took the tools without anyone hearing them, as the security guards were stationed on the top level.