The Guardia Civil has arrested a vehicle thief in Cartagena and identified his accomplice following a dozen property crimes committed in Cabo de Palos, El Algar and Pilar de la Horadada. During these incidents, he managed to steal a van and a motorcycle, as well as breaking into several cars and a petrol station.
The actions were part of Operation Chichar, which was launched after an increase in property thefts was detected in Cabo de Palos and El Algar. This spike in crime had raised concern among residents in these localities within the Cartagena municipality.
Investigators carried out detailed technical visual inspections and other enquiries to understand the modus operandi and identify those responsible. They also deployed preventative operations to try and stop further thefts.
During one of these operations, officers located a van while it was refuelling at a service station. The vehicle was listed as stolen from the Alicante municipality of Pilar de la Horadada.
Following the stolen van led the Guardia Civil officers to a communal garage in Cabo de Palos, where they verified that the primary suspect had also allegedly stolen a motorcycle.
According to the investigation, the arrested man relied on the help of a collaborator to carry out his criminal activity. The pair travelled across various urban centres in the Mar Menor area.
The Guardia Civil pointed out that the main suspect acted compulsively, committing up to five forced break-ins inside vehicles in a single night in El Algar. To access the cars, he broke one of the windows and searched the interior quickly, taking any object that could be resold on the black market, such as cash, electronic devices or other valuables.
Officers explained that the suspect under investigation also had the support of other individuals from the criminal environment, who helped commit the thefts or provided shelter after the events.
As Operation Chichar progressed, investigators narrowed their focus on the main suspect. However, his arrest proved complicated due to his high mobility and an extensive criminal record. The detainee was also the subject of a judicial search and arrest warrant, which forced officers to increase their surveillance measures.
Another crime attributed to him is the theft of the daily takings from a service station, where he allegedly acted alongside another person. According to the investigation, whilst one distracted the petrol station employee, the other took the cash from the till. They used this division of roles to reduce the risk of being discovered.
Once the necessary evidence was gathered, the Guardia Civil established a specific operation to locate the main suspect. This phase culminated in his arrest and the investigation of his collaborator as an alleged accomplice.
A stolen van and motorcycle were recovered during the operation and have already been returned to their owners. Other stolen items, such as cash and lottery tickets, were also seized. At the time of the arrest, officers also confiscated 3,000 counterfeit euro that the detainee was carrying. The investigation remains open to determine if there are further criminal acts related to this group.
Other Articles
Man arrested for stealing cash from elderly at ATM’s
