BURGLARS BEHIND BARS

Serial villa and shop burglars - and a rapist - caught in Jávea swoop

JÁVEA police have cracked two separate crime waves affecting nearly 30 homes and shops and arrested three men this week, meaning residents and traders can finally sleep easier at night.

Montgó homeowners became afraid to leave their villas due to a string of burglaries which all took place late in the evenings, normally when the occupants had gone out for dinner.

The sole perpetrator, a 25- year-old Moroccan with a Spanish passport, amassed over €7,000 worth of jewellery and €12,000 in cash, among other personal effects and valuables, say the Guardia Civil.

During one break-in, the owner caught him and a scuffle ensued, but the young man escaped.

He dropped a purchase receipt and a mobile phone he had just stolen in his flight.

The owner observed he walked with a limp, thought to have been caused by injuring himself on the spikes of the garden rails.

Police caught him after searching a 50-kilometre radius and finding out he had been to several different health centres for his wound to be treated.

He was found to have burgled 14 Montgó villas, and has been remanded in custody.

In a separate operation concluded this week, the Guardia Civil arrested two Moroccan men aged 25 and 29 for breaking into 15 shops and bars in Jávea.

They struck after closing time, forcing doors and windows and wearing balaclavas so they could not be identified by CCTV footage.

The two men mainly went for the contents of the tills, hitting several premises if they did not find much cash inside, and frequently stole bottles of alcohol.

They were of no fixed address and lived between the homes of relatives and friends.

Police say they caused around €6,100 in property damage, amassed about €6,800 in cash and stole drinks to the value of €400. In this case, they were released with charges.

Woman raped

One of the shop and bar thieves raped a woman in broad daylight between two parked cars within days of being allowed to walk free pending trial – but has now, thankfully, been remanded in custody.

Police heard that the attacker approached a 51-year-old woman in her usual early-morning Jávea bar on Saturday at around 06.00 and offered her money for sex, which she refused.

After she left the bar, her assailant followed her and pinned her against the bonnet of a car, where he raped her.

She told police the attacker had been 'stalking and hassling her for ages' and knew where to find her every morning.

He is now behind bars awaiting trial, but his accomplice in the string of robberies is still walking the streets.