Hotel robbers nabbed
Pickpockets targeted elderly British pensioners
THE NATIONAL Police this week dismantled an alleged criminal gang dedicated to robbing tourists at hotels in Benidorm.
Four suspects have been arrested in Alicante and seven reports of theft have been solved with the identification, location and detention of the alleged culprits.
According to the authorities, the suspects chose their victims as they disembarked from coaches outside their hotels - when the thieves made the most of the large crowds to pick the visitors' pockets.
Another method they reportedly used consisted of posing as employees of the establishments and handing out pamphlets that they had previously taken from inside.
Again, they waited until their targets were distracted before taking their wallets, purses and valuables.
An investigation launched by the authorities revealed that the gang - three men and one woman, all aged between 23 and 40 years old -worked in an orga- nised fashion with clear-cut roles - while the men distracted the victims and kept watch, the women performed the theft.
They reportedly targeted elderly British tourists.
SAFER RESORT
However, major and petty crime has reportedly dropped by more than 12% in the resort this summer, according to a statement made this week by the government delegation in the Valencia region.
Regional delegate Juan Carlos Moragues revealed that petty theft fell by 12.4% in July and August, while the number of burglaries registered a 20.6% re- duction compared to the same period last year.
According to Sr Moragues, these statistics highlight 'the efficiency of the police and the good coordination between all the town's forces'.
"Benidorm is now safer than ever," sentenced the government representative.