On Three Kings Day, a 56-year-old man of Italian descent sparked a surprising reaction when confronted by authorities. He reportedly claimed he was heading for hell after being accused of stealing from the Holy Face church in Alicante. Known locally as the “Italian” by several churches in the city, he became infamous for using a simple fishing-line setup to lift money from donations, gathering both banknotes and coins donated by parishioners. Investigators believe the man used a fishing rod affixed with double-sided tape to retrieve money from the church’s donation slot and then released the envelope of funds back into nearby bushes while reloading the sticky tape to continue the operation. The behavior prompted ongoing concern about similar thefts at other churches in Alicante, where authorities had previously restricted unauthorized access.
With careful patience, the thief exploited the natural rhythms of church gatherings. Standing near the shrubbery by Santa Faz Church, he attached a rod with a piece of double-sided tape at its end to the donation slot, effectively performing a covert extraction during liturgical moments.
One administrator encountered the man on another day and warned he would face serious consequences if he was intercepted again.
This is how the alleged robber operated during services, letting the money cling to the tape, then plucking it from the device before tossing the rest of the money back into the surrounding area. If the tape loosened, the suspect would replace it and resume the theft.
Security cameras
The theft came to light on January 4 when the maintenance and security officer at Santa Faz Church went to collect the congregation’s donations. It was around the Christmas period, and the collection typically reached between 1,500 and 2,000 euros, but the brush appeared empty that day.
The administrator reviewed the security logs of the Holy Face Convent and noted that, as January began, offering support remained steady, yet the footage showed a figure feeding a thread with a sticky device through the brush’s slot to retrieve coins and notes placed by the faithful. This maneuver was repeated multiple times, with the suspect emptying the fund box and leaving the church behind.
Archival image caption: Archival image of the Church of the Holy Face. JOSE NAVARRO
Images indicate the thief was accompanied by two women, prompting the administrator to file a report with the National Police on January 5, following authorization from the abbess of the Santa Faz convent. The congregation’s legal representative noted that the person seen in the monastery in the weeks leading up to the incident had shown signs of prior thefts and that other money had been retrieved from the brush, including tapes found inside the container.
The Alicante Northern District Police Station received the complaint just before Three Kings Day. When officers returned to the scene, they caught only a glimpse of the principal suspect in the cafeteria near the cloister, between the two church entrances. They alerted uniformed and plainclothes patrols, and a measure of caution was exercised as the investigation continued.
“I’m going to hell”
Upon approaching the suspect in Santa Faz, officers asked him about the robbery. He replied with the now infamous line, “I’m going to hell,” offering little further information. Police recovered additional evidence, including two rolls of masking tape and a 135-centimeter item of double-sided line, among other items. Authorities believe the suspect may have intended to continue the scheme, potentially repeating the method elsewhere if not stopped.
The suspect was brought to the Provincial Police Station. He exercised his right to remain silent, and at the subsequent hearing, did not testify. He was released on conditional terms while charges were considered. Reports indicate the individual had been staying in a hostel in Alicante, and investigators do not rule out the possibility of continuing similar activity in other cities using the same method to target church donations.