In a coordinated operation, the Civil Guard stopped two suspects in Torrevieja who are accused of planning and executing forced robberies at homes located in Petrer, Elche, Cartagena, and Badajoz. During the arrests, authorities recovered 127 pieces of jewelry, with 70 pieces subsequently returned to their rightful owners. The suspects faced charges for document tampering and driving without a license, leading to imprisonment orders issued by the Torrevieja Guard and Instruction Court.
The breakthrough came through a routine traffic control, which exposed a string of illicit activities tied to the firm’s investigation. The inquiry began with a functioning device intended to identify vehicles and individuals, culminating in a stop of a vehicle in Torrevieja on July 5. Officers discovered the driver possessed a forged Greek driver’s license and an identification card. The 33-year-old Georgian man was taken into custody on charges of document forgery and violations of road safety regulations. At the Torrevieja Civil Guard offices, the detainee reportedly asked a friend to bring credible personal documents to prove his identity.
A first suspect was detained at a police checkpoint, while the second was arrested when he went to the barracks to retrieve the papers for his accomplice. When questioned by Civil Guards, the man’s identity appeared inconsistent, and investigators found multiple efforts to conceal who he really was. A thorough review of the vehicle’s documents finally confirmed his identity as the person driving the car to the police station.
The following morning, another Georgian passport was presented by the detainee. According to the Alicante Civil Guard Command press office, when asked to identify himself, the individual provided conflicting information and offered excuses not to show his real documents. The investigation continued as officers inspected the car more closely and connected the dots that linked the suspect to the vehicle, the charges, and the planned offenses.
The search did not end there. Agents uncovered two counterfeit Georgian driver’s licenses, a tampered Greek ID card, two copies of that ID, and a precision balance. Hidden under the vehicle’s interior components—under the ashtray and the handbrake lever—authorities found 14,240 euros in cash, 127 pieces of jewelry, a set of binoculars, and other tools used to gain access to homes, such as various door-opening implements. A friend of the primary suspect, a 40-year-old Georgian man, was also detained on separate related charges of document forgery.
Georgian detainees were identified as experienced domestic robbers, reportedly using plastic wedges to breach doors and marks on entrances as part of their modus operandi.
Following the discovery of a substantial collection of jewelry, investigators from the Torrevieja Main Station’s Investigation Area began correlating more than 70 jewelry fragments recovered from robberies in Elche, Petrer, and Cartagena. On the same day, officers searched the homes of the two detainees in Elche and seized objects connected to a separate robbery in Badajoz. In addition to the aforementioned crimes, the suspects faced charges related to five counts of domestic extortion.
Although 70 of the 127 recovered jewels were eventually returned to their rightful owners, officials stressed that the number of victims could rise as the investigation unfolds.
As the inquiry continues, authorities noted that approximately 70 jewels have already been returned to their owners, but they did not rule out further discovery or additional victims as more evidence is evaluated.
The Civil Guard also urges citizens to photograph jewelry and other valuables. This simple measure can significantly aid in identifying beneficiaries if items go missing or are stolen, helping speed up the recovery process. (Attribution: Civil Guard press office, Alicante)