25 arrested as Guardia Civil crack down on vehicle thefts in Malaga Province

WITH the participation of the both the National and Local Police, officers of the Guardia Civil have smashed a gang involved in the theft of motor vehicles in Malaga Province and have arrested 25 people.

The investigation commenced when it was realised that a number of thefts of quad bikes and motor bikes had taken place in, Alhaurin el Grande, Coin, Marbella, Mijas, Monda, Ojen and Torremolinos as well as burglaries at a number of isolated houses in the area.

The forces concluded that the thefts were being undertaken by members of a family living in a number of different locations so that nine simultaneous raids had to be made in Malaga Province and Sevilla which netted a pleasingly large amount of loot.

The haul collected following the raids included 28 vehicles, more than €100,000 in cash, a revolver with ammunition, four airguns, approximately one kilo of marihuana and 200 grams of hashish, precision scales, numerous gardening and agricultural tools, high-end watches and motorcycling equipment which came from at least 30 robberies.

Some of those arrested were known to be expert mechanics and it is believed that many of the stolen vehicles were stripped down and their parts sold as spares. Between them the alleged crooks were charged with belonging to a criminal organisation, armed robbery, possession of illegal weapons, theft of vehicles, document fraud and receiving stolen goods.