Operation ‘Villanos’ has helped the police to resolve around 120 thefts, particularly from the elderly, and has led to the arrest of six people and the recovery of 450 items of jewellery.
The initial investigation began earlier this year in Almeria but eventually covered thefts carried out in Almería, Albacete, Badajoz, Cádiz, Teruel, Ciudad Real, Castellón, Cuenca, Granada, Guadalajara, Huesca, Logroño, Murcia, Sevilla, Tarragona, Jaén, Toledo, Valencia and Zaragoza.
The gang responsible, a loose network, were divided into highly mobile groups and searched for their victims from less populated areas or from nursing homes or similar.
One member of each group would engage their target in conversation or ask directions to some public building while one or two others approached and offered jewellery for sale. While distracted, the victim, usually elderly, would be relieved of the jewellery they had about their person. If rumbled, the thieves would just snatch what they could and run.
After the initial investigation began in Almeria, it was noticed that similar robberies were being carried out all over the country and the investigation broadened.
The recovered items of jewellery will be on display at the Guardia Civil headquarters in Almeria so they can be identified and claimed by their rightful owners. More arrests have not been ruled out as the investigation continues.