The National Police have recently pursued a focused operation targeting the theft of personal mobility devices (PMDs). A total of 12 people were detained in Alicante as investigators closed 28 cases involving electric scooters and bicycles that were typically moved out of Spain to be sold abroad.
The Judicial Police Operations Group of the Alicante Northern District Police Station initiated the operation after noticing a rise in complaints about PMD theft around sports facilities and shopping centers in the city. The growing prevalence of these devices has created new opportunities for crime, prompting the National Police to allocate resources to confront this issue head-on.
Investigators carried out surveillance and methodically examined multiple cases in close cooperation with the Security Force’s Response Team. Security camera footage and witness statements helped uncover 28 offenses, including the theft of electric scooters and bicycles.
In sports centers
In most incidents, thieves approached PMDs parked in designated areas near sports complexes or shopping centers. Some offenders acted alone while others coordinated with accomplices, performing surveillance to avoid detection. They pried open chains or security locks with tools such as scissors or pliers and fled with the devices, hoping to escape notice.
The police crackdown on this wave of robberies led to 12 arrests, involving individuals of Spanish and Algerian nationality, aged between 16 and 38. The operations demonstrated a sustained effort to dismantle networks responsible for the thefts and to recover stolen property.
One arrest occurred during ongoing investigative work by an officer from the Northern District Judicial Police Operations Group. The officer surprised several suspects attempting to steal an electric scooter, detaining one and recovering the vehicle, which was subsequently returned to its rightful owner. The operation also resulted in seizure actions and the repatriation of recovered PMDs to their owners.
Separately, an Algerian adolescent was arrested on allegations of staging a crime. He had claimed to be the victim of a violent robbery by another individual. After reviewing security camera footage, investigators established that the complaint was unfounded and the case was clarified.