A 23-year-old man with a prior criminal record was stopped by police in Alicante after being linked to a string of six burglaries at downtown shops. He allegedly posed as a plumber to distract victims and mislead them while he carried out thefts. The case has drawn attention to a pattern of opportunistic crime that appeared to unfold across several nearby businesses within a short span of time.
Authorities from the Provincial Police Station report that losses exceeded 3,000 euros, and the incidents occurred within a single month in tightly clustered commercial areas in central Alicante. The suspect reportedly created an opening by fabricating a plumbing issue and gaining entry under the guise of routine maintenance related to a leak from an upstairs area.
In the first incident, the detainee allegedly asked the victim to use the restroom and instructed her to leave the faucet running so he could perform checks. Moments later, she heard the front door close and discovered that two mobile phones, valued at approximately 650 euros, had been taken while she stepped out of the room.
Three days later, using the same ruse, the individual is said to have taken 11 euros in cash and 690 euros worth of lottery tickets. In a pair of complaints filed on the same day, a 200-euro phone and a 1,327-euro item were reported as stolen. A fifth shop reported a device valued at 450 euros and a sixth shop noted a theft of a device worth 840 euros.
Recognized by the victims
Investigators focused on reviewing security footage and workplace records, quickly confirming that the suspect was a familiar face to the authorities due to a known background. The victims identified the thief from photographs without hesitation, which helped police build a case and pursue formal charges. The pursuit culminated in the suspect being taken into custody and facing the appropriate charges for his actions.
The overall tally from these six thefts includes six mobile devices, several lottery tickets, and cash totaling more than 3,000 euros, plus additional items valued at over 600 euros. The episode underscores how someone with a criminal history can exploit everyday disruptions to commit robberies in a busy urban center, leveraging trust and distraction to reduce scrutiny during the act.