Civil Guards involved in the Sanandres operation arrested two individuals after a sprawling spree that included at least 93 church robberies across 82 towns in Cantabria, Asturias, and Palencia. The primary aim behind these thefts was to recover cash hidden within churches. For instance, at the Valvauz Sanctuary in Cantabria, donations meant for the Christmas nativity scene were nearly wiped out, with about 1,000 euros stolen. Beyond cash, a variety of religious objects were reported missing, suggesting possible later sale on the black market.
The initial robberies were concentrated in Cantabria, taking place in December of the previous year. Following a thorough investigation, two residents from Villacarriedo, Cantabria, were identified and detained. During searches, investigators uncovered paintings and safes containing oil paintings, small chests with keys for arbors, sacred relics, temple keys, sound instruments, and two carved wooden pedestals taken from churches. The scale of the looting extended to around 140 religious artifacts, with many coins of modest value found among church and beggar collections.
Additionally, investigators recovered a range of tools commonly used in break-ins, including crowbars of varying sizes, a hydraulic jack, screwdrivers, pliers, and night-vision equipment. These finds underscored a planned and repeatable method of operation rather than isolated incidents.
modus operandi
The investigations point to a pair as the main suspects. The female suspect conducted initial reconnaissance of temples that were later targeted, assessing security measures and potential vulnerabilities. The pair is believed to have used multiple vehicles to move between locations, allowing rapid shifts from one site to another and complicating response efforts by authorities.
The Civil Guard had been tracking this pattern even before the Lebanese Jubilee Year began at the Santo Toribio monastery. With a rise in pilgrims and donations along the Camino Lebaniego, authorities feared thefts could surge again as crowds gathered for the event.
The security operation that guarded the Camino Lebaniego enabled a patrol to stop a suspicious vehicle one night in the town of Tama, Cantabria. Days later, in the town of Quijadas, Cantabria, another Civil Guard patrol located the same couple with instruments in the vehicle that resembled those found in Tama, reinforcing the link between incidents and the suspects.
arrests
Arrests followed a cascade of evidence and growing concerns about a renewed wave of church robberies. Authorities organized a coordinated operation that led to the apprehension of a male suspect driving a vehicle containing tools that could be used for theft.
The female suspect was later taken into custody at her home in Villacarriedo. A subsequent search of the residence yielded numerous items tied to the church robberies, cementing the connection between the two individuals and the long-running criminal pattern.