Guardia Civil arrests two people for 35 thefts from homes in Sant Joan, Xàbia, Rojales, and Orihuela Costa

Two men, ages 36 and 37, were detained and charged with burglary and careless driving after fleeing the scene, significantly jeopardising road safety.

The robberies occurred in four cities in Alicante: Nou Nazareth in Sant Joan d’Alacant, Orihuela Costa, Rojales, and Xàbia, and Los Alcázares in Murcia, according to armed institute sources.

Suspicions

After identifying a rise in burglaries in the Orihuela Costa area, the Guardia Civil in Pilar de la Horadada launched an investigation, which discovered that the burglaries were being conducted using the same method. Officers believed from the start that the offenders could be the same.

Thus began the difficult work of gathering and analysing a massive amount of data from all sources available to the researchers.

Robberies were carried out all along the coast of the province of Alicante and its surroundings, always in the afternoon and early evening, in occupied residences, but taking advantage of the fact that the residents had departed at the time.

Force the doors

According to the same sources, they frequently chose homes in gated communities, gaining access by climbing over the outer fence and, on occasion, using a key.

Once inside the development, they forced open doors or windows or climbed via an open window on the higher floor.

Once entering the house, they rummaged through the contents until they discovered cash, jewellery, electronic devices, and any other small, high-value items such as perfumes or watches, among other things.

Most robberies resulted in the theft of property worth several thousand euros, with cash or jewellery accounting for the majority of the proceeds.

To commit the robberies, they travelled down the coast from Alicante’s capital, sometimes moving north and sometimes south, robbing multiple residences in a single day, even in different towns or outside the province.

On the run

Probably to prevent discovery, they regularly changed the vehicles they used to perpetrate thefts. As the inquiry developed, investigators gathered enough evidence to narrow their focus on two suspects.

Surveillance and controls were then increased in the vicinity of the looted places, and on two occasions, officers from the Pilar de la Horadada Guardia Civil Post and the Orihuela Costa Local Police attempted but failed to halt the vehicle in which these people were going.

When they noticed the police presence, they left without hesitation, even if it meant endangering the officers’ lives or road safety. On May 13th, they were arrested in Alicante after being tracked down by detectives.

In addition to the burglaries, they are charged with two charges of dangerous driving and fled the scene.

Background

Both were remanded in custody following their appearance before Alicante Court of First Instance No. 9. They are 36 and 37-year-old men who had previously been convicted of identical offences.

The Pilar de la Horadada Guardia Civil Inquiry Department worked with the Sant Joan Civil Guard and Orihuela Costa Local Police to conduct the inquiry.

An operation in which officers obtained valuable information that helped them solve 35 robberies. After the two men were imprisoned, local residents had found peace of mind.