Pensioner predators captured
Thieves lied and then barged into victims' homes
THREE career criminals, who allegedly specialised in conning their way into elderly people’s homes and stealing whatever valuables they could get their hands on, have been arrested in Alicante, Elche and Orihuela.
The suspects, a man and two women aged between 31 and 55, are all members of a family clan that operated all over Alicante province, explained a spokesman for the force.
To persuade victims to let them into their homes, the thieves used various arguments, pretending to be relatives, neighbours or acquaintances while barging their way in without giving them time to react.
Once inside, each had a specific task, while one distracted the victim by making conversation and leading them around the house the others had free rein. Another would pretend to be ill in order to leave the room they were all in and look around for valuables, stealing all kinds of objects, especially cash and jewellery.
The third person, usually the man, would act intimidatingly in case the victim became suspicious.
The victims were not chosen at random, the thieves selected elderly people who were vulnerable or in ill health, who also found it difficult to identify the culprits afterwards even though they had spoken with them during the robberies.
The investigation has cleared up four such crimes but officers are investigating whether there may be more victims who have not reported it out of fear.
The three suspects have police records for more than 64 previous property crimes between them.
Two of them were handed over to investigating courts in Elche and Orihuela, while the third was released because she is heavily pregnant.