The National Police and the Civil Guard worked to arrest a total of twelve individuals belonging to a criminal group attempting to burgle homes in rural areas. The Orihuela Guard Court of Inquiry ordered the imprisonment of eight people, including the “ringleaders” of the gang. Searches were carried out in many places. Albatera, Cox, Dolores, Benejúzar and Crevillent. In this last municipality of Baix Vinalopó a fmaterial for making stolen pickup trucks and master keys.
Thieves broke into houses in Alicante and its surroundings by taking advantage of the night hours; To do this, they broke into doors or windows and stole jewelry and objects of great value. They also used stolen vehicles, sometimes with fake license plates, to get to the scene of the robbery. They mostly used highways to reach safe areas where they could “sort” the stolen supplies and continue selling them.
The investigation began last August following a significant increase in robberies at many rural homes. Thus began the operation “Welter-Hail”, in which the Judicial Police Group of the National Police Orihuela Police Station Brigade and the Villena Civil Guard Main Station began working on the case.
According to the police: “On December 17 and in the following two days, after all members of the gang were identified and their participation in the robberies was proven, the operational phase of the operation was carried out. Seven houses and an industrial facility were searched. Murcia, Albatera, Cox, Dolores , warehouse in the municipalities of Benejúzar and Crevillente”.
Poppy and cocaine
Additionally, in the Murcian region of Sangonera la Seca, two inspections were carried out at two sites, resulting in the arrest of the person responsible for shipping vehicles and other stolen items to Morocco. A stolen minibus and materials for making master keys were also found in an illegal workshop in Crevillente.
During searches and investigations, tools used in robberies, electronic elements that disable vehicle security systems, fake keys and various stolen objects were seized. Additionally, 13 stolen vehicles were also seized.
They intervened 10,490 grams of marijuana, 90 grams of cocaine, elements for the production and distribution of narcotic substances and various objects strategically stored in a chalet.
In total, all operational and accepting members of the criminal organization were arrested: 12 people, including 10 Moroccan nationals and 2 Spanish nationals, aged 20 to 77, 9 men and 3 women.
The detainees, accused of membership in a criminal group, crimes against property and socioeconomic order, as well as drug trafficking, were placed at the disposal of the Orihuela Guard Training Court. While 8 people, including those most responsible, were imprisoned, an interim injunction was issued for the rest.
The development of the operation involved the cooperation of the Judicial Police Group of the Yecla Police Station (Murcia) and the Special Systems Group of the Supreme Headquarters of Valencia, as well as the Citizens’ Security Units (USEClCs) in Alicante. and Torrevieja, Callosa de Segura and the Main Missions of Torrevieja
With this cooperation between the National Police and the Civil Guard, 105 crimes committed in the provinces of Alicante, Albacete, Murcia, Almería, Ciudad Real and Valencia were brought to light. A criminal group was also busted which caused economic losses of more than €400,000 between damages and stolen objects.