An Albanian gang dedicated to burglarising luxury homes on the Costa del Sol has been brought down by the Policia Nacional.
The force said it prevented an imminent ‘string of robberies’ planned by the pair of suspects, who had already carried out at least 11 break-ins this summer.
The two men, aged just 21 and 23, were arrested earlier this month and have now been remanded in custody. Police said the pair were preparing to strike again when officers moved in.
A summer crime spree
Investigators from the Provincial Police’s Robbery Unit had been tracking the men since August, when a string of burglaries hit three upmarket urbanisations on the outskirts of Malaga.
The gang’s modus operandi was always the same. In the early hours of the morning, they would climb over perimeter walls, prise open doors or windows with makeshift crowbars, and quietly ransack bedrooms and living rooms in search of valuables.
Their main targets were cash and jewellery. Police noted that the thieves operated with such stealth that homeowners often didn’t realise anything had happened until they woke up the next morning to find their properties turned upside down.
Caught before striking again
After the August break-ins, the pair left Malaga for Spain’s Levante coast in an attempt to let ‘the heat die down’.
But by September 8, police traced them back to a budget guesthouse in Malaga’s city centre, where they were allegedly preparing their next series of hits.
Officers raided the room, seizing mobile phones, clothing linked to previous burglaries, and bundles of cash. Much of the stolen property has since been returned to its rightful owners.
Behind bars
The investigation has now led to formal charges and the pair are being held in preventive detention. Police sources said the dismantling of the gang was crucial in preventing further raids on residential areas of Malaga.
The case highlights a recurring challenge for Costa del Sol law enforcement, as organised gangs from abroad continue to target wealthy neighbourhoods and striking while families sleep inside.
Read more Costa del Sol news at the Spanish Eye.
