Suspects arrested for violent hold-ups
One man had skipped prison and was wanted by courts around Spain
TWO men suspected of carrying out violent break-ins in south Alicante province have been arrested by the Guardia Civil.
They were detained following four robberies in broad daylight at businesses in Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa in the last two weeks.
The suspects – aged 50 and 44 – are both Spaniards.
One of the men had eight arrest warrants outstanding, which had been issued since he disappeared in May while on temporary leave from prison in Madrid – and he was wanted by courts in Madrid, Segovia, Valdemoro, Móstoles and Colmenar Viejo.
According to the Guardia Civil, they had targeted a chemist’s, an estate agency, a hairdresser’s and the office of a power company.
Workers at the businesses were threatened with a large knife.
A force spokesman explained that the robbers took cash from the tills, jewellery and any valuables they found.
They forced the workers to give them their credit cards, PIN numbers and car keys.
The spokesman said that
Pilar de la Horadada Guardia Civil had prioritised the investigation due to the violent nature of the offences.
The officers interviewed all victims and witnesses and watched images from CCTV cameras which showed one of the cars used by the offenders.
The car was spotted a few days later at a shopping centre car park in Orihuela Costa by one of the patrols posted in the area.
One of the suspects was seen nearby and was immediately arrested.
The second suspect – identified as the most dangerous one – was arrested that evening as he approached the house he was living in.
During a raid at the property officers confiscated a stolen car, €980 in cash, three mobile phones, three large knives, stolen medicines and drugs, a laptop and a driving licence.
They have been charged with five violent break-ins, using a stolen credit card, faking number plates, car theft and other minor crimes.
An Orihuela judge remanded the two men in custody.