ANOTHER HIGHWAY ROBBERY GANG ARRESTED

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The Guardia Civil has broke up a gang of criminal who would prey on innocent travellers on the AP-7 motorway, with the arrest of five suspects in the case.

Those involved have appeared in court in Dénia, remanded in custody as alleged perpetrators of numerous robberies. The attacks were all committed based around service areas and lay-bys on the AP-7, with a distance covering almost the entire east coast, from Girona to Murcia, including Alicante, where they were finally captured.

The five suspects, all of Romanian nationality, took advantage of the night to act, looking for tired or sleeping travellers, opening the boots of vehicles and stealing the contents. Most of the items stolen were sent to Romania, according to investigators.

The Guardia Civil strengthened surveillance on the AP-7 last summer, following a stark increase in the number of crimes of this nature, where criminal gangs would steal money and valuables, taking advantage of the “carelessness” of their victims, who were mostly tourists. An in depth investigation and study was launched to learn the behaviour of the gangs, so as to best act in preventing and detecting criminal activity. One conclusion from that study by criminology experts was that an increase in patrols would have a direct effect and decrease in the number of attacks.

A short stop to refuel or rest of a foreign driver is synonymous with the robberies, which were all meticulously planned to work around strategic points of attack, as well as avoiding routine patrols and inspections.

Since last year, a total of five gangs have been arrested, including one of the ring leaders, all of whom are being brought to justice.

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