The Guardia Civil arrested a 52-year-old man as part of Operation Jarta for committing 37 crimes against property and the socioeconomic order, including robberies of foreign tourists in service areas and sections of the AP-7, primarily in the provinces of Alicante, Valencia, and Murcia.
A wandering criminal targeted foreign tourists as victims
The inquiry, launched by officers from the Villena Main Post inquiry Area as part of the Safe Tourism Plan, revealed a criminal pattern affecting a large number of foreign tourists.
The suspect pretended to be disoriented, carried maps, and approached visitors seeking directions. Taking advantage of the maps’ big size, he strategically placed them on purses, backpacks, and personal possessions before stealthily snatching them from the victims.
When the victims discovered the crime and attempted to collect their property, the criminal did not hesitate to use violence, injuring them to varied degrees as he left at high speed in his vehicle.
Citizen collaboration is vital to locating the author
The investigation confirmed the suspect’s identification based on victim accounts and analysis of evidence collected at multiple service stations. The culprit drove many vehicles with license plates from several countries and none with his name, making it difficult to track him down. Officers confiscated one of these vehicles, which was used to flee and transfer stolen goods.
During the investigation, it was determined that this individual had several outstanding arrest warrants from multiple courts, as well as a travel ban for similar offences. Several court districts also sought his arrest due to outstanding cases.
It is estimated that he has stolen items worth around 32,000 euros over the last year, including jewellery, cell phones, documents, and other personal belongings, and the potential of other victims being discovered is not ruled out.
Enhancing safe tourism and safeguarding one of the most significant tourist destinations
The detainee, a 52-year-old Romanian man, has been brought before Villena’s Investigating Court No. 3, which has ordered his remand in custody, thereby contributing to increased security on roads and service areas along the Mediterranean coast, particularly the AP-7, one of Europe’s busiest tourist corridors.
This operation is part of the State Secretariat for Security’s “Safe Tourism Plan,” in which the Civil Guard implements preventive actions to contribute to a safe environment and improve security culture, ensuring the peace of mind of visitors who select Spain as their destination.
Author: Derek Appleton
No Comment! Be the first one.