Three individuals were arrested by National Police officers in Torrevieja (Alicante) on Thursday, March 26th, as the alleged perpetrators of numerous robberies that occurred in jewellery stores across several Spanish provinces. The detained individuals were members of a travelling criminal organisation that specialised in the theft of jewellery through the well-known “distraction” method.
The investigation, which was named “Operation IOCUS,” commenced in August of last year following the group’s detection in Zaragoza. Officers were able to identify the alleged perpetrators and connect them to a variety of offences that were committed in various regions of the country as a consequence of the investigation. The suspects were organised and coordinated, with a clear division of responsibilities among the group members.
Their itinerant character enabled them to commit crimes in a variety of provinces, including Zaragoza, Vizcaya, Málaga, Toledo, and Alicante. To date, they have accumulated a total of eight solved cases, with profits exceeding €50,000. Their method of operation involved entering jewellery stores and requesting that employees demonstrate various items. They ostentatiously exhibited a wad of banknotes to gain the employees’ trust, thereby simulating high wealth. They skilfully stole as many pieces of jewellery as possible, swiftly leaving the premises to avoid detection, taking advantage of moments of inattention from the staff. Upon their identification, a police operation was initiated, which ultimately resulted in their capture and detention in the town of Torrevieja in Alicante.
Additional members of the criminal organisation who participated in the illicit activity were also identified. The detainees, who have a high rate of repeat offences, were taken before a judge as the putative perpetrators of eight counts of theft and membership in a criminal organisation. After providing their statements, they were granted parole and released. The National Police are currently conducting an investigation to ascertain the full extent of the facts and do not exclude the possibility of additional arrests.
