A criminal group targeting banks and gaming halls in eight provinces has been dismantled. Five suspects, Spanish and Serbian nationals, are now in custody. The operation clarifies 52 serious crimes and recovers stolen cash.
Five members of a highly organized gang specializing in violent robberies of banks and gaming halls have been arrested by the Guardia Civil, following a months-long investigation that spanned eight Spanish provinces. The group, made up of Spanish and Serbian nationals, is accused of carrying out more than 50 crimes, including 11 bank robberies and 15 attacks on gaming establishments, with most incidents concentrated in Almería and Albacete.
The suspects operated with military precision, always dressed in dark clothing, hoods, and gloves to avoid identification. Their method was consistent: they forced entry using tools such as angle grinders, hydraulic cutters, and axes, then ripped out safes from their anchors and transported them in stolen vehicles fitted with false license plates. The gang meticulously planned each operation, using secure locations to open the safes and hide both the loot and their equipment.
The investigation began after a high-profile robbery in March in Ontur (Albacete), where the group broke into a bank, stole the safe, and escaped in a luxury car with €66,000. This incident provided crucial leads, allowing officers to link the crime to a criminal network based in Murcia. Surveillance and intelligence work revealed a strict hierarchy within the gang, with each member assigned specific roles, from stealing vehicles to disabling security systems and extracting safes.
Authorities uncovered that the group avoided surveillance cameras by always covering their faces and using gloves, and they used multiple properties with private parking to store stolen cars and tools. These locations also served as planning hubs, where routes and logistics for each heist were mapped out. The gang often launched short bursts of activity, hitting several targets in quick succession—such as two banks in Almería on May 29 and three gaming halls in the same province on June 18.
During the final phase of the operation, codenamed Otello, Guardia Civil agents conducted six searches, recovering €34,000 in cash from the Ontur robbery, two high-end vehicles, three forged driving licenses, communication equipment, frequency jammers, balaclavas, and a range of burglary tools. All five suspects have been remanded in custody by order of the Hellín court, which is overseeing the case.
The dismantling of this gang has helped clarify a total of 52 crimes, including attempted robberies, vehicle thefts, license plate thefts, and document forgery, as well as membership in a criminal organization. The crimes were distributed across Albacete (12), Almería (11), Granada (7), Cuenca (5), Jaén (3), Murcia (3), Ciudad Real (2), and Valencia (2).
Spain has seen a rise in sophisticated property crimes in recent years, with criminal groups increasingly using advanced tools and tactics to evade law enforcement. The Guardia Civil’s success in this case highlights the importance of coordinated police work and intelligence sharing across regions. For context, recent debates in Valencia over urban security and the future of city landmarks, such as the Mestalla stadium, have also drawn attention to broader issues of public safety and community identity, as discussed in this analysis of Valencia's urban challenges.
According to official data, Spain’s banking sector has invested heavily in security upgrades over the past decade, but rural and small-town branches remain vulnerable to well-organized criminal groups. The use of stolen vehicles and forged documents complicates investigations, often requiring cross-jurisdictional cooperation. The Otello operation demonstrates the evolving strategies of both criminals and law enforcement in Spain’s ongoing fight against organized theft.
