'Crime' family held for stealing from employers

SEVEN members of family which specialised in stealing from the houses where they worked have been arrested in by Almeria Police.

One of the women worked as a cleaner and informed the others of the security systems in the houses as well as where to find jewellery, money and valuables, and when the owners would be out of the house.

Her partner also worked as an odd-job man in the same houses.

They used copied keys to get into the house which led the police to investigate people who were known to the homeowners.

The seven detainees, aged between 29 and 50, planned to flee to Cuba with the stolen goods.

Five have been remanded to prison.

The police have recovered €94,000, most of which was hidden up a chimney and in the false bottom of a wardrobe, as well as mobile phones, documents of interest in the investigation and jewellery valued at €25,000.

By Jennifer Leighfield