Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
POLICE in Spain and Romania in association with Europol have busted a ‘love-hug’ robbery gang that stole items from people in streets across Spain.
The family-run team sent jewelry and watches back in Romania.
Twelve people were arrested for 41 thefts, and four violent robberies.
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In Spain (2) and Romania (23), 25 addresses were searched and 26 luxury watches and gold jewellery items were recovered.
22,900 euros, 1,850 UK pounds and 7150 lei of Romanian currency were seized along withl 12 properties and seven vehicles valued at more than €190,000.
The gang first rented rural homes in Spain, then moved into cities to carry out their crimes.
A Madrid court began an investigation on the group in early 2024. The group, based in Madrid, also operated in Alicante (Spain), Barcelona, Granada and Murcia.
The thieves acted in pairs, male and female. The man drove the car from which they approached the victim.
The woman engages in a dialogue with a person who is seeking information or directions.
She’d then ‘thank them’ by caressing or hugging the victim- often elderly- to steal jewellery and watches with her male partner then driving off at speed once they obtained their loot.
Other members of the gang made ‘express’ trips to the cities where the robbery teams were located to collect the booty.
Policia Nacional has confirmed that 45 crimes have been committed, with stolen goods ending up in Romania.
The watches and jewelry were hidden in household appliances using parcel shipments made by different companies.
The police said that the gang leader in Romania was the final recipient of these goods. They had a very high standard of living, owning a number of high-end cars and properties.
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