Five Suspects Linked to a Multi-Province Home-Robbing Ring Are Detained
A coordinated operation led by the Civil Guard resulted in the arrest of five individuals connected to a criminal group active across multiple provinces in Spain. The suspects, associated with incidents in Alicante and Madrid, allegedly targeted elderly residents by posing as electrical inspectors in order to break into homes and steal valuables. A protective court in Denia ordered the release of all detainees on charges, with a ban on leaving the country and a requirement to appear in court on a set schedule.
In July, local law enforcement noted a spike in home invasions and burglaries within Calpe and the surrounding areas of Marina Alta and Marina Baixa. The pattern was consistent across cases: the gang contacted victims by phone, focusing on seniors around 80 years old, promising to reduce electricity bills. They arranged home visits, during which one gang member distracted the homeowner while others conducted a search of the residence.
When victims resisted or failed to cooperate, the criminals did not hesitate to use force to achieve their aims. If residents were not at home, the group used stolen or copied keys and other tools to gain entry, often exploiting the opportunity with minimal signs of force.
The image below shows the tools employed during the robberies and the money seized in connection with the crimes. INFORMATION
To establish the facts and locate those responsible, the Calpe Central Station Investigations Unit launched Operation Garles. Early stages of the inquiry involved a thorough review of documents and an intensified focus on Calpe as the gang selected that town to carry out its offenses. On September 6, investigators traced the occupants of a vehicle and confirmed that all had prior police records relating to similar offenses. The group was described as a traveling crime ring originating from the Madrid area, specifically Fuencarral-El Pardo, which is part of the larger Madrid municipality network.
As the operation advanced, authorities determined that the group consisted of five Spanish men aged between 28 and 30. They faced charges for more than a dozen robberies and thefts in Calpe, Benissa, Teulada, Bussol, Villajoyosa, El Campello, and Alcorcón in Madrid. The group reportedly used a fixed base of operations in an occupied residence in Calpe during the activity period.
On September 8, investigators proceeded with the arrests of all five members, aware that the gang planned to relocate to another area to continue its criminal activities. During the arrests, investigators recovered 2,000 euros in cash, counterfeit master keys and magnetic keys, assorted tools, and a stolen bank card belonging to one of the victims. Authorities also confiscated the motor vehicle used by the suspects in the crimes. (Attribution: Guardia Civil)