National Police officers have arrested six individuals in the Alicante town of Alcoy, consisting of five men and one woman, for allegedly stealing machinery and materials valued at approximately €200,000 from an industrial warehouse, according to a statement from the headquarters.
The police investigation began following a report from the owner of an industrial warehouse in Alcoy, who informed officers that his property had been targeted in a burglary resulting in the theft of a large quantity of electrical material, machinery, and tools.
An acquaintance of the victim alerted him that the burglary was taking place after spotting several people loading material into a vehicle at the premises. The burglary occurred in broad daylight, and upon arriving at the scene, the owner discovered that the exterior gate had been forced open, its motor stolen, and the lock on the pedestrian access door broken.
After inspecting the interior of the warehouse, the owner found that a large hole had been made in one of the walls, allowing the culprits to access an adjoining abandoned warehouse.
Upon checking the machinery and materials used in the business, the owner confirmed that numerous items had been stolen, including lighting equipment, cast-iron streetlamps, aluminium blocks, electronic circuit boards, and multiple workshop tools and other objects. The total value of the stolen goods was estimated by the victim at €200,000.
Officers launched an investigation and initially examined a vehicle that the perpetrators may have used. Subsequently, following various enquiries, police located part of the stolen items at a local scrap yard, which the victims positively identified as their property.
Further checks allowed officers to identify the two people who had sold the items at the scrap yard: two men aged 20 and 36, who were located and arrested for an alleged offence of robbery with force.
On the same day, officers identified three additional individuals involved in the burglary, comprising two men aged 40 and 43, and a 39-year-old woman. One of these men and the woman were located and arrested for the alleged offence of robbery with force. The following day, officers traced a fifth suspect, a 40-year-old man, who was also arrested for the alleged offence of robbery with force.
Finally, officers arrested a 46-year-old man for the alleged offence of robbery with force, concluding the investigation. All suspected perpetrators were arrested within five days of the burglary, and a portion of the stolen goods was recovered, although the financial impact on the victims remains significant.
Following the completion of police procedures, the detainees have been brought before the duty investigating court in Alcoy.