Night outings and dinner are often praised as healthy routines, especially when followed by a restful night. In this instance, two individuals detained by the Elche Police Station, a 40-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman, may have drifted into those habits after long shifts in what appeared to be quiet retail locations. Instead, their movements through the city center carried a far more troubling purpose. The police arrested them after observing a burglary in progress at a shop, a case that has now led to charges of up to five robberies during the recent weeks. Some incidents reportedly occurred with the suspects in vehicles parked along public roads.
The investigation began after multiple complaints to the National Police from personnel within the Robbery Division of the station, who reported a pattern of high-profile robberies circulating through the heart of the city. “Given the similarity of the incidents of interest, investigators proceeded to identify the likely perpetrators and, once located, detained them,” officials stated.
Evening and night hours
To that end, a surveillance operation was mounted with particular focus on the hours when businesses close and pedestrian activity tapers off. During one of the surveillance cycles, investigators observed the two individuals preparing to force access to a storefront through entry methods implying entry without consent, prompting immediate intervention and arrest. This sequence underscores a pattern tied to late-day and overnight activity in commercial districts.
According to the statement, the woman served as a lookout at the doorway, offering assistance as needed, while the man proceeded with the thefts. Following the arrest, authorities obtained a warrant to search the couple’s residence. The ensuing raid included forcibly entering and removing shutters with large shears, and investigators recovered clothing and a tablet used during the robberies. It was also reported that additional items from the robberies were found, including a mobile device and various illicit substances, such as MDMA and cocaine, along with a precision scale.
Detention and legal proceedings
The two detainees, identified as Spanish nationals with a prior history of property offenses, were brought before the Elche Court of Inquiry and remained in custody as the case progressed. The man faced custodial detention pending further legal action. Throughout the process, authorities emphasized that the charges reflected a pattern of repeated offenses aimed at enterprises in the local area and highlighted the coordinated nature of the investigative work that linked the incidents.