The National Police have arrested a 28-year-old man in Orihuela accused of committing three offences of robbery with intimidation in less than 24 hours. The suspect allegedly used a knife to rob his victims, according to a statement issued by the security force.
The first incident occurred early in the morning on 2nd July. The victim was a 58-year-old woman whom the suspect surprised as she was preparing to get into her vehicle, which was parked in a car park in the city.
Once the victim was inside the car and preparing to drive away, a man suddenly opened the driver’s door while brandishing a knife and demanding that she hand over everything she had. The victim pulled out her purse and showed him that she only had 40 euro. The assailant snatched the money from her hand and fled the scene on foot. The victim was left in a state of anxiety, fear and confusion, and required medical assistance.
The second robbery was also allegedly perpetrated on the morning of 2 July, when a man entered a local food shop armed with a knife. After reportedly threatening the owner, he stole 200 euro from the cash register and fled.
The third incident took place just after midnight on 3rd July. The assailant allegedly entered through the back door of a fast-food establishment inside a shopping centre in the city, taking advantage of the fact that the door was open while an employee was cleaning the area.
The thief, whose face was covered with a white handkerchief and a cap, and who was armed with a knife, allegedly approached the employee and demanded all the money from the till. Fearing that he might harm her, the worker complied and directed him to the cash register, where the man eventually made off with a haul of 300 euro from the takings.
Due to the seriousness of the incidents, investigators from the Judicial Police Brigade of the National Police carried out numerous enquiries to fully identify the perpetrator. They requested CCTV footage from the scenes and gathered more detailed statements from the victims, alongside photographic identification procedures.
The investigation yielded positive results thanks to the technical inspection carried out by the Local Scientific Police Brigade. Following their examinations, they collected various traces that confirmed the full identity of the perpetrator in all of the criminal acts, according to the police.
Following the completion of police proceedings, the arrested man was placed at the disposal of the Orihuela investigating courts, which ordered his immediate remand in prison.
