Three suspects connected to a criminal group were arrested by the Civil Guard and the National Police. The group specialized in breaking into unoccupied homes during residents’ absences. Investigators charged them with four burglaries in Santa Pola, Guardamar del Segura, Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, and Jacarilla. Authorities believe they may be linked to as many as twenty additional break-ins.
Following the theft probe conducted by gendarmerie units, a joint operation was launched. The Alicante Judicial Police Brigade, part of the Specialized Crime Group, coordinated with the Santa Pola Civil Guard post and the regional investigative team to carry out the operation.
“Slip” method
The arrested individuals, identified as Spanish and Algerian nationals, moved through coastal towns in the morning and acted with routine calm. To bypass door locks, they employed a technique known as the slip or tracking method. They used a die to create copies of keys and manipulated locking cylinders or bows to gain entry, letting homeowners realize the thefts only after discovering the disturbed interiors.
Investigators found that two of the suspects were inmates who returned to a prison facility each night after the robberies, as they were in a tertiary regime. They left the facility each day, not for work, and parked their cars at the entrance before resuming their rounds the next morning. They traversed several city districts, committing new burglaries as part of their routine.
The National Police and Civil Guard have charged the group with four residential burglaries in Santa Pola and Guardamar del Segura. Investigators are still examining their potential involvement in about twenty additional break-ins in Orihuela Costa, Torrevieja, and Jacarilla.
Jewels
In Alicante, authorities recovered a fanny pack containing jewelry and valuables that had been recently stolen. Master keys and other tools useful for breaking into homes were also seized. Searches of two residences in Alicante and Elche uncovered suspected stolen jewelry and valuables, along with additional materials and tools that could be used to force entry.
The three detainees, aged 55, 58, and 62, were taken to the police station. The Alicante court ordered confinement while investigations continue.
Sources indicate this case is being handled by multiple regional police units and the national investigative framework, with ongoing efforts to determine the full extent of the criminal activity and to recover any remaining stolen property. (Source: National Police and Civil Guard press releases from Alicante region)