Five individuals were detained in Diyarbakir as authorities pressed forward with investigations tied to a string of high-profile burglaries targeting luxury residences along Spain’s southern coast and the Balearic Islands. The arrests followed a rapid series of raids that connected the suspects to a previously reported wave of smash-and-grab incidents. The National Police confirmed that several homes involved in these heists were located in affluent districts along the Costa del Sol, as well as in Murcia and Ibiza, with additional cases scattered across Pilar de la Horadada in Alicante and other coastal towns. Investigators recovered valuables taken from the homes of prominent figures, including expensive jewelry and luxury watches, during operations that stretched across multiple provinces. One vehicle was intercepted on a ferry route between Ibiza and Denia, and investigators recovered items traveling in a separate compartment identified as part of the same crime wave. The arrests form part of a broader effort to disrupt a coordinated criminal network that exploited private gated communities and security gaps to carry out their schemes, according to the National Police.
The investigation began in late 2021 and has since traced a pattern of robberies at upscale villas across the Costa del Sol, Murcia, and Ibiza during peak festive periods, including New Year celebrations. Authorities estimate that valuables worth hundreds of thousands of euros were stolen in these incidents, with a portion of the loot valued at around 300,000 euros. Early inquiries indicate the operation was carried out by a criminal gang of Albanian origin that traveled into Spain specifically to conduct the attacks. The group reportedly used a mix of high-powered rental vehicles and license plate evasion tactics, along with disabling GPS systems to avoid real-time tracking. As the probe unfolded, police identified a methodical approach: choosing high-value residences in private neighborhoods, exploiting moments when residents or visitors were present to assess security measures, and using disguises and discreet communication devices to coordinate each assault from outside the property.
The investigation highlighted a central role played by a married couple based in Malaga who coordinated logistics for the operations. Their responsibilities included arranging transportation, securing temporary accommodations, and directing the selection of targets. Anomalies in task distribution and movements prompted investigators to question why the group shifted focus from Malaga to Barcelona and then to Ibiza within a short span. Tensions rose when officers learned of a burglary at a well-known footballer’s home shortly after another high-profile theft, triggering intensified surveillance and a logistical push that linked the individual suspects to diverse locations. Law enforcement authorities carried out a coordinated operation at Denia port, seizing suspected accomplices and recovering valuables tied to the various attacks. The intervention required specialized tactical units to extract suspects from the scene and safeguard the integrity of the recovered items, including some luxury timepieces taken during the Ibiza incident.
Following the initial detentions, investigators broadened their inquiry to Malaga province where subsequent searches uncovered additional connections to fifteen other attacks, ten of which occurred within Spain. Searches were conducted in Valle-Niza and Chilches, Vélez-Málaga, and Ibiza, yielding material evidence that tied the detainees to the broader network and to further offenses across multiple regions. In total, authorities attributed involvement to five more suspects in Malaga, Murcia, and Alicante as part of the ongoing crackdown. The progress of this operation underscores the emphasis on disrupting organized theft rings targeting affluent communities, with officers noting the careful planning and execution that characterized the crimes. The overall effort remains focused on consolidating evidence, preventing further criminal activity, and bringing all implicated individuals to trial. The case continues to develop with updates from law enforcement and judicial authorities. (National Police)