Gang of thieves arrested in Murcia for more than 150 home burglaries across Spain

The Guardia Civil, in Operation “Alambrados-Cepa-Gratus,” eliminated a criminal organisation that specialised in burglaries within remote residences across the country.

The investigation was initiated by complaints of burglary in residences in the Serranía de Ronda and Antequera regions of Málaga and Córdoba. All of the reported burglaries were unique in that they all took place on holidays or weekends.

To carry out the act, the culprits hired cars and worked together to fulfil a common set of obligations. On the one hand, some were in charge of pre-trial surveillance, target selection, and monitoring neighbouring communication channels to ensure their escape.

Others walked to their homes, frequently over fields, cutting through the metal fences that surrounded them. They then forced their way inside the dwellings through bars, windows, or doors. Once inside, they promptly began looking for goods to take, primarily money, jewellery, high-end watches, electrical devices, and safes.

The criminal organisation had a logistical infrastructure that included members who rented vehicles using fraudulent papers. They also had safe homes in various places, which were used after each robbery. Furthermore, they used encrypted cell phones, making it harder to find the criminal organisation.

Following months of study, the operation’s exploitation phase was carried out concurrently in multiple places throughout the province of Murcia in May.

In three house searches, 12 members of this criminal organisation were apprehended. Several pieces of jewellery, €12,400 in cash, electronic gadgets, and tools used to commit the crimes were found.

They buried the jewellery and money in little hidden cavities built in the walls of their homes. This operation has entirely decimated the criminal organisation.

So far, 150 burglaries have been solved in municipalities across Malaga, Cordoba, Granada, Jaen, Seville, Cadiz, Cuenca, Caceres, Badajoz, and Avila. The detainees were handed over to the head of Murcia’s Investigating Court No. 9, who worked with the head of Ronda’s Investigating Court No. 1 to hear the cases.

Officers from the Ronda and Antequera Guardia Civil Companies (Málaga) and the Montilla Main Post (Córdoba) conducted the inquiry, assisted by Murcia Civil Guard officers.