GUARDIA Civil officers who arrested a man in Carcaixent (Valencia) believe he is one of a gang behind the recent spate of thefts from cars in the area. He was using a device that cloned the frequency of remote controls and could then be used to open vehicles while he also had a tool that allowed him to force doors without damaging them. CCTV footage showed that he was getting into cars in a matter of seconds and the suspect is thought to be behind at least a dozen such incidents.
The man was arrested at the weekend and had been one of three people arrested less than 24 hours earlier, when he had been detained and then released awaiting charges. After a number of reports of similar thefts in Carcaixent, Alzira and Petrer, Guardia agents studied CCTV which led to the recent detention. They have also seized a briefcase containing over 200 remote controls from various vehicle brands and two devices to capture remote frequencies. It is estimated that around €20,000 worth of goods was stolen in the crime spree; the authorities have reminded people not to leave valuables in their car.
