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Two men were detained by national police in Alicante after investigators recovered photographs and computer equipment valued at 35,000 euros, items believed to have been stolen from a residence in Oliva two days earlier.

Officers from the Intervention Operation Group of the Alicante Provincial Police Station, together with the Alteas Citizen Assistance Group, were patrolling to safeguard citizens and deter crime in the city. While on duty, they observed two individuals inside a vehicle and noticed an attempt to flee when they approached a police vehicle.

Reacting promptly to what appeared to be suspicious behavior and the potential commission of a crime, the officers halted the vehicle and conducted a routine security check of the occupants and their belongings. During the inspection, they uncovered professional photography equipment, including high-value cameras and lenses, as well as numerous cameras, lenses, and related accessories, along with a considerable amount of cash in various currencies.

As information about the items could not be immediately explained by the vehicle occupants, the officers conducted further investigations into the belongings and noticed that one device displayed an open and unlocked social media profile on its screen.

Stolen items linked to a recent break-in

On-site inquiries were intensified, and investigators were able to contact the owner of the social media profile. The owner confirmed by phone that his home in Oliva (Valencia) had been forcibly broken into two days earlier, and that he had already filed a police report about the incident.

The police actions proceeded after confirming the victim’s information. Two men, aged 42 and 44, were arrested at the scene and placed under custody at the Provincial Police Station in Alicante. All items reported as stolen and found in the luggage were seized as part of the ongoing investigation.

Recovered possessions

The items recovered included a tablet, two premium laptops, four hard drives, five professional lenses, three professional cameras, branded hats, and cash. In total, belongings matching the victim’s description, with an estimated market value of 35,000 euros, were returned to the rightful owner.

Both detainees were turned over to the Alicante Guard Court of Investigation. The triumph of the operation highlights the effectiveness of preventive patrols conducted by the Operational Response Groups and the Citizen Assistance Groups in enhancing public safety across urban centers in Spain.