THE Guardia Civil in Calpe have arrested nine people in connection with a number of house robberies in the Marina Alta and Valencia. The Guardia started their operation after there was a surge in burglaries last year, predominantly on affluent urbanisations. House owners in Beniarbeig, Benidoleig, Benimeli, Rafolde Alumnia, Sagra, Tormos and Orba were all victims as well as Els Poblets and Monte Pego.
After intercepting a man of North African origin with stolen goods they started watching known acquaintances of his. Six of there were among those arrested last week and police believe that the stolen property was being shipped back to Africa for onward sale. The other three detainees were all charged with receiving stolen goods. The leader of the gang of thieves was found to be residing illegally in Spain using forged documentation say the authorities.
All nine of those arrested are from Morocco and Algeria, two women and seven men. The Guardia have recovered a large amount of the stolen property after searching the residences where the suspects were residing including TVs, phones, jewellery, power tools, bikes, PCs, clothing, electrical goods and sports equipment. The group have been charged with a total of 42 crimes and the ringleader has already been imprisoned in relation to his false identity and illegal entry to Spain.
