The Guardia Civil has dismantled a sophisticated criminal organisation in Calpe that specialised in residential burglaries across the north of Alicante province. The operation resulted in the recovery of stolen goods valued at nearly one million euro, including hundreds of pieces of jewellery, diamonds, gold ingots, over 200 high-end watches, cash in various currencies, and 18th and 19th-century Orthodox religious paintings.
Five individuals, comprising four men and one woman aged between 31 and 59, have been arrested. Officers have solved 40 residential break-ins linked to the gang. The Court of Instruction in Dénia has ordered that three of the suspects be remanded in prison.
The investigation, named Operation Locator, began after officers identified a pattern of burglaries across the region. Members of the group conducted meticulous preliminary surveillance, going as far as fitting geolocation devices to victims’ vehicles to track their movements and ensure homes were vacant before striking.
When targeting properties with security systems, the criminals tampered with the electrical supply to disable alarm sensors and security cameras. If dogs were present on the premises, they deployed electronic animal deterrents. To gain access to properties, the thieves used specialised tools, including telescopic ladders, night vision equipment with recording capabilities, walkie-talkies connected to discreet earpieces, and heavy-duty tools for cutting metal and breaking glass.
Investigators also uncovered an illicit fencing infrastructure designed to process the stolen loot. The network included a jeweller brought in from abroad who operated a clandestine workshop in Calpe. Here, precious stones were removed from jewellery, and gold was melted down into sheets and ingots to obscure the origin of the items before re-entering the illegal market.
Officers conducted six searches in Calpe targeting residential properties, storage units, and the secret workshop. The recovered items included historic Orthodox paintings of significant cultural value, which the authorities have already returned to their rightful owners. The operation was carried out by the Judicial Police Territorial Team and the Investigation Area of the Guardia Civil in Calpe, supported by the Citizen Security Unit of Alicante and the Calpe Local Police, alongside cooperation from Calpe Town Hall.
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