Police make arrests over ‘flat tyre’ robbery attacks on the A7

POLICE arrested 14 men in Catral allegedly involved in the systematic robbery of drivers on the A7.

The modus operandi of the gang members was to wait in the rest areas of the motorway, and once a target was chosen, let down one of the tyres to their car whilst they were away from it.

On their return the gang would follow the car, and either make the driver aware of the tyre problem, or wait until the driver realised and pulled over to check. The gang would then strike, and if resistance was offered they did not hesitate to use violence; baseball bats and sticks were recovered from their premises, along with stolen jewellery and other valuables.

A special task force was set up in June by the Drugs and Organized Crime Unit in Alicante to crack the case, as Police had become aware of an organised gang operating in the Alicante region along its motorways.

The operation was named ‘pinchazo’ – puncture – referring to the letting down of the tyres.

The investigation led to an industrialist based in Sant Joan who allegedly took advantage of his export business to Morocco to sell the stolen items that he had bought from the thieves.