The Civil Guard of Calpe has detained the 6 members of an active criminal group dedicated to the theft of homes from high-middle class housing estates. Likewise, he is investigating three other people, who acted as the receivers of the stolen objects. The leader of the group has already been imprisoned for these acts.
As of June last year, 2018 detected a strong theft rebound in homes, located in the area called "The Rectory", composed of the towns of Beniarbeig, Benidoleig, Benimeli, Rafol d'Almunia, Sagra, Tormos and Orba, as well as in the nearby town of Els Poblets and in developments such as Monte-Pego.
The agents of the ROCA Team of the Civil Guard Company of Calpe took charge of the investigation. They were able to identify a Maghrebi citizen, who at that time was carrying stolen objects from a house in the Urbanización Ráfol de Almunia. As a result of this identification, the agents focused the investigation on a group of people, settled in the Valencian localities of Carlet, Alcudia and Picassent. This group turned out to be highly specialized in robberies in homes, located in high-middle class urbanizations. They had several areas of action in which they committed different robberies, such as Marina Alta in Alicante and La Ribera in Valencia.
Modus Operandi
The leader of the group, the most active component, was in charge of the direct commission of the robberies. He coordinated and organized the rest of the members so that they could transfer him to the area where the crimes were committed, and there he, alone, proceeded to commit several robberies in different houses, throughout the night, selecting the effects to be taken, until, at dawn, he again had a member of the group that was picking him up, along with the stolen. Sometimes, due to the large number of objects that were stolen and, having no place in the cars, they left them hidden in the vicinity of the urbanizations, to pick them up later.
The leader resided illegally in Spain, using a falsified identification document, which he had made after having usurped the identity of an Algerian compatriot. In addition, he used this forged identity to make numerous jewelry sales in gold stores, obtained in the various robberies.
The group had a large portfolio of customers who bought the stolen items, at a much lower price than the real one in the market. These, who were mostly of Maghrebi origin, stocked the goods and took them to their country of origin, selling them there. For this reason, high-end televisions stand out among the most sought-after and demanded objects for their theft and, with an easier exit and quick sale. In fact, in one of the domiciliary registers, a curved, state-of-the-art television of great economic value could be recovered.
Finally, the operation has been settled with 5 domiciliary records in the province of Valencia (2 in Carlet, 1 in Alcudia and 2 in Picassent), arresting a total of 6 men, 1 Algerian and 5 Moroccans, aged between 29 and 64 years for 42 crimes of theft with force in housing. In addition, there are 3 more people, as investigated, 1 Spanish 54 years and 2 women of Moroccan nationality, 38 and 40 years, for various crimes of reception.
Of the total of 42 crimes, 36 were carried out in La Rectoría and 6 in Carlet, Alginet and Llombai. In addition, 2 of them were executed with the dwellers inside. The head of the group is also accused of falsifying a public document and another of misappropriation of marital status, by adopting the identity of another person.
It has recovered a large amount of stolen effects, among which include numerous televisions, mobile phones, jewelry, hand tools (such as chainsaws), abundant computer and electronic material, bicycles, clothing, sports equipment, among others. Many of these objects have already been returned to their rightful owners. 4 also used vehicles used by the group and 3450 euros in cash, from the sale of the objects.
Of the 6 detainees, the one considered as ringleader has already been imprisoned, leaving the remaining 5 (and the 3 investigated), on provisional release with charges, awaiting trial.
