Two members of a ‘professional’ robbery gang have been arrested in Marbella over a series of raids on tourist flats.
The National Police said the two men stole more than €640,000 worth of goods while holidaymakers were out of the homes – mostly at night.
The force said they wore disguises and posed as holidaymakers so as not to raise suspicions while casing out the properties before breaking in.
They allegedly used a well-known technique to pry open doors of properties, which involves inserting a sheet of flexible plastic between the frame and the lock’s hatch.
The pair are accused of carrying out at least nine night-time robberies in Marbella, and the total value of the stolen items could exceed €640,000, police said.
Their loot includes jewellery, luxury watches, electronic devices and cash. No further details on the stolen items have been provided.
During the investigation, the Policia Local de Marbella confirmed that the suspects systematically targeted tourist lets.
The force said they waited for the occupants to leave the properties before gaining access without causing any apparent damage.
Investigators said they may have used more sophisticated methods, such as ‘bumping’ or ‘impressioning’, as some victims claimed to have locked the door and, upon returning, found no signs of forced entry.
Police said the accused wore outfits designed to ‘blend in with their surroundings.’
In some cases, they disguised themselves as tourists, while in others, they wore masks, caps, and other clothing to make them difficult to identify on potential security cameras.
They cased out the properties, police said, to analyse the best time to strike when it was more likely the tenants or tourists would not be inside.
Once inside the homes, the thieves took extreme precautions to avoid leaving fingerprints or traces, police said.
The two suspects have been remanded in custody pending further investigations.
