A Catalytic Converter Theft Ring and Robbery Network Dismantled in the Valencian Community and Beyond
Authorities say a broad crackdown connected a wave of catalytic converter thefts in the Marina Alta with a wider criminal operation that extended into home robberies, as well as break-ins at bars and restaurants. The joint effort stretched across the Valencian Community and culminated in multiple arrests, including two in El Verger and another in Sabiñánigo, Huesca. Investigators confirmed 23 catalytic converters were stolen and two homes were invaded by one of the detainees. The cases reveal a criminal network capable of moving from street thefts to organized property crime across several provinces.
HE ROCA, a unit of the Calp Civil Guard, initiated the inquiry after noticing a rise in catalytic converter thefts in Marina Alta starting last October. Law enforcement traced a vehicle involved in the robberies to a Romanian national living in Oliva who had a prior criminal record. The suspect specialized in removing catalytic converters from vehicles and operated mainly at night, focusing on public parking areas across Marina Alta. The investigation showed how a single individual could act as a common link, coordinating thefts with others in the region. Early attention centered on the pattern of installations and the timing of the crimes, indicating a network rather than separate incidents.
Alicante Group
The Civil Guard broadened the inquiry to include a second cluster of suspects based in Alicante, linked to the same criminal enterprise. Two robberies targeting homes in Xàbia were attributed to this group, uncovering parallel activity by two other Romanians who had settled in the province. Investigators believe the group specialized in collecting amusement machines and tobacco vending machines from hotel and hospitality venues. The pattern suggested a broader strategy that exploited busy tourist zones and routine hospitality operations to fund ongoing criminal activity.
Further lines of inquiry connected two robberies to Arenales del Sol and an Elche restaurant, plus a separate incident in Daimús, Valencia. The network used sophisticated methods to bypass security measures and exploit easy entry points, targeting venues with high foot traffic and visible surveillance weaknesses. The scale of the thefts and robberies pointed to deliberate, organized planning rather than opportunistic crime.
The arrests followed close monitoring of a suspect attempting to depart the country on February 9. Law enforcement moved quickly and intercepted the individual a short distance from the French border in Sabinanigo, Huesca. The next day, two more people tied to the El Verger operations were detained. The ongoing investigation continues to map the connections among the group members and to determine the full scope of their activities, including the equipment used to strip catalytic converters and the routes used to move stolen items.