Officers from the Guardia Civil have arrested a 24-year-old Spanish man as the alleged perpetrator of the theft of 160 sewer drain covers in the town of Jávea.
The covers were transported in his vehicle to a scrap metal shop in Benissa, where they were later sent to be melted in Valencia.
During the month of March, the City Council of Jávea informed the Guardia Civil of the theft of the drain covers. These covers, which are made of cast iron and have large dimensions, are valued at 120 euro, thus giving a total loss of 19,200 euro.
However, regardless of the economic amount, the removal of these covers constitutes a potential danger for vehicles and pedestrians, to such an extent that “a person was injured with a broken leg when he fell into one of the holes.” These events caused a growing social alarm among the residents of the town.
It is for all this, that the Research Area of the Guardia Civil of Jávea, initiated an investigation in which it was discovered that these covers were transported in a vehicle to a scrap metal warehouse located in an industrial estate in the neighbouring town of Benissa.
On March 25, the agents were able to catch the alleged perpetrator red-handed , selling several covers at the metal recovery store.
At that time the agents proceeded to arrest him and carry out an inspection of the establishment, where they found 35 covers with the same characteristics and numerous irregularities in the registration books in this regard.
For these facts, the detainee has been charged with a continuing crime of theft, while the junkyard workers, because these people were allegedly acquiring the covers knowing that they could be stolen material, have also been charged.
The seized covers were returned to the Jávea City Council. Likewise, and after subsequent investigations, the Guardia Civil discovered how the remaining caps had been sent by the receivers to a foundry located in Valencia and had already been cast.
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