Five Algerian men, aged 23 to 35, were arrested in Alicante by the National Police on suspicion of forming a crime group that targeted houses while the residents slept, stealing valuables. They face nine counts of burglary, and the arrest followed a breakthrough when the Provincial Judicial Police Team, aided by the Scientific Police, identified the lead suspect, speeding up the ongoing investigation.
The investigations began after two forceful entries at homes in Alicante occurred while occupants were asleep. Detectives started mapping a pattern of behavior and gathering clues to gauge how large the operation was becoming.
The victims described how the burglars entered quietly without waking anyone and carried away belongings of value that were visible near the sleeping area. In some cases items from the nightstand were taken without the residents realizing what had happened.
Scaling the Facade to Break In
The investigators concluded that while the principal offender climbed the facade and entered through a window, another person watched the surroundings to secure a quick escape and to alert the team if police appeared. This coordination allowed the intrusion to be carried out swiftly and discreetly, lowering the risk of detection during the break in.
The work of the Scientific Police proved decisive, as traces collected at the scene enabled the identification of a suspect as the alleged thief. This finding was key to understanding the scope of the network and guiding the inquiry toward other potential members.
As more evidence tied this person to the case and his Alicante residence was confirmed, authorities organized a broader operation. In that operation, the lead suspect and four additional men were arrested as alleged authors of the examined robberies.
The police conducted a search of the leader’s home in Alicante and recovered a large quantity of items of likely illicit origin. The seized objects were spread across different rooms and closely linked to the offenses under investigation.
Following the seizure, the detainees were connected to seven more robberies with similar characteristics, as several victims recognized part of what had been recovered during the operation.
The arrested individuals have been charged with nine counts of burglary and one count for belonging to a criminal organization. They were remanded to the Alicante court on duty.