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With reports of break-ins in the region increasing, there’s good news that a gang of thieves have been caught by the Guardia Civil. Six members of the gang were arrested and are thought to have been responsible for a wave of robberies targeting properties belonging to nonresidents. From the gang’s base the police collected a number of items including baseball bats, crossbows, swords and masks. The gang specialised in burglaries in holiday homes in Torrevieja and other towns in the Vega Baja. The exact number of robberies they have carried out is not yet known as there may be houses that have been robbed and the families owning them are not yet aware. The gang were well known and feared due to the way in which they entered the houses and the destruction they caused. In order to address the threat a page was created on Facebook to act as a social networking alert for neighbours; the aim being to share information and help with their capture. The six accused are also believed to have stolen a Mercedes worth €95,000 from Ciudad Quesada. The group targeted holiday homes whose owners were foreigners and spent long periods of time in their home
Armed burglars foiled by police
countries. They used brute force to break through gates, doors and windows, knowing that the premises were not
currently occupied and that they were unlikely to be disturbed. The band had been hard to catch due
to their level oforganisation, caution and vigilance. They monitored and tracked the properties before they struck and had
Tues 21st - Mon 27th June 2016
established lookout points at the entrances to urbanisations and on flat roofs. They were equipped with binoculars and coordinated their activities using wireless transmissions. The level of organisation of the band made it very difficult for the police to intercept them. The thieves used gloves and balaclavas that meant they were difficult to identify through fingerprints, through CCTV or through witnesses. However, when the police raided the thieves’ houses they found clothing, binoculars, walkie-talkies and other accessories that will also act as evidence. As well as breaking and entering homes the gang were responsible for stealing from garages and one night stole cars from seven garages in a row in Torrevieja. On this occasion they were both recorded on CCTV and were surprised by a neighbour which led to them fleeing from the scene. Detectives were able to identify the members of the gang in the end through camouflaged cameras and surveillance in the areas that the gang liked to target. Three of those arrested have been detained in prison and three have been released. However, further arrests are not continued on page 3
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