Hugger-muggers caught

Romanian couple had struck several Costa towns

Couple arrested after striking in several towns

THE GUARDIA Civil arrested two women in Moraira on suspicion of committing thefts using the ‘hugging method’ on Wednesday morning. The pair were apprehended between the town centre and the tourist beauty spot of El Portet bay.

They are alleged to have committed crimes of violent robbery in Calpe, Benicàssim (Valencia) and Valencia itself.

Their arrest occurred after the Guardia Civil in Moraira, in conjunction with the citizen security unit in Calpe, began a surveillance operation to try and identify the thieves. One pair, a man and a woman of Romanian nationality, began to raise suspicions during the operation as the male had previously been arrested for the same offences in Benicàssim and Valencia, which were committed on March 19.

The day after the surveillance began, Moraira agents identified the occupants of a separate vehicle containing a man of Romanian nationality and the same two women, proving that the women were working together. One woman had also previously been arrested for muggings committed in Calpe on March 25 and 26. She was immediately taken into custody.

The two women, after being brought to justice, were released until a court appearance.

Hugger-muggers usually focus on victims of advanced age, mainly of foreign nationality, who are wearing expensive jewellery, especially watches.

Pub brawl arrest

In a separate incident, a man was arrested in Teulada on Wednesday after a brawl in a town centre bar led to threats to kill.

According to the victim, a discussion in the establishment led to a heated argument, following which the accused threw several punches at him, causing injury. Following this, the suspect then drew an automatic knife, a banned weapon, and threatened to kill the man, waving the knife in the air in front of his face.

The victim called the Guardia, who conducted a search for the assailant using the description provided. He was located the following morning with the help of the local police, and was arrested still in possession of the knife.

Guardia civil agents detained the 42-year-old and charged him with assault, threats to kill and possession of a prohibited weapon. He was taken to court and was released on charge awaiting trial.