The National Police operation in Alicante last weekend led to the arrest of two men, aged 20 and 35, who were found in possession of fifty one mobile phones that had been stolen at a carnival party. The men faced charges of theft and falsification of documents after they allegedly created their own version of August using a Saturday Ramblero and took part in the theft of numerous mobile devices. They were not required to hide their identity as thieves and were released on bail after appearing in court on Tuesday.
Cell phones recovered from the detainees in Alicante were collected as evidence and taken to the police for processing.
During the early hours of Sunday, police conducted a routine patrol following a security device set up for the Carnival festivities. Officers observed two individuals acting suspiciously near a vehicle and, upon noticing the police presence, attempted to flee the scene.
frustrated escape
The officers stopped the escape and began the formal identification of the suspects. One of the individuals allegedly presented a counterfeit official document to identify himself. A search of the vehicle uncovered a total of 51 stolen phones, many of them wrapped in aluminum foil in an apparent attempt to hinder geolocation tracking.
In addition, the suspects carried a notebook listing various cities and holiday dates, suggesting they may be part of a mobile crime operation that travels across Spain to target events.
Police reported that a substantial portion of the phones were recovered and returned to their rightful owners, though some devices may still be unaccounted for. The investigation continues at the Alicante Central District Police Station, with an ongoing effort to identify all owners of the intercepted devices and to determine the full extent of the operation.
Officials emphasized that the case highlights the need for vigilance at large public events and the importance of promptly reporting suspected thefts. The police statement noted that coordinated patrols and quick response times can deter offenders and improve the chances of recovering stolen property.
While the specifics of the operation are still being documented, authorities indicated that the investigation will include follow up interviews and data analysis to map the suspects’ movements and connections to any traveling groups that carry out similar activities across different regions.