At the start of the year, a large criminal operation was uncovered in the Spanish provinces of Castellón and Valencia: seven people were taken into custody on suspicion of organizing and carrying out twenty robberies at various businesses and commercial establishments. The criminal gang showed remarkable ingenuity, using high-end cars with fake license plates to mislead police and make tracking them more difficult.
The investigation began after an attack on a supermarket in Betxí. It soon emerged that the same methods had been used in other thefts: the perpetrators meticulously planned each move, disabled alarms, disrupted communications, and broke in using heavy tools like sledgehammers and crowbars. Inside, they took not only cash from safes and registers, but also groceries, flashlights, tools, and other valuables.
The total losses caused by the gang were staggering: the amount of stolen money reached €120,000, while the damage to stores and offices is estimated at around €150,000. The crime spree stretched across multiple cities: in Castellón, there were incidents in Betxí, Segorbe, Pobla Tornesa, two in Almassora, two in Alcalà de Xivert, two in Vall d’Uixó, Sant Joan de Moró, Benicarló, Altura, Cabanes, and Vinaròs. In Valencia, robberies were reported in Algar de Palancia, Algímia d’Alfara, Rafelbunyol, Cheste, El Puig de Santa Maria, and Puçol.
Arrests were made in several cities, including Vila-real, Alicante, and Málaga. All detainees have been charged with involvement in a criminal organization, burglaries, theft, and forgery of official documents. According to investigators, the group was highly organized and technically equipped, allowing them to operate quickly and almost silently.
As a result of the operation, authorities not only stopped a string of robberies but also prevented potential new crimes. Investigators are now working to identify all incidents and possible accomplices. Officials note that such schemes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and the fight against organized crime requires constant advancement of investigative methods.
