The Guardia Civil has arrested three individuals as alleged perpetrators of seven thefts from vehicles parked in car parks in Mijas, Málaga, Marbella and Manilva. They used signal blockers to disable the car locks.
Officers from the Main Post in Mijas began investigating after an increase in reports of thefts in car parks of shopping centres and supermarkets in the province. Victims claimed to have properly locked their vehicles, but upon returning found that they had been ransacked without signs of forced entry.
The modus operandi of the criminal organisation
The gang, considered by the Benemérita as a mobile criminal organisation, acted in a coordinated manner. While one member monitored potential victims near the establishments, another used signal blockers to jam the remote control signal of the car. This way, the driver believed they had locked the vehicle, but the doors remained open.
The suspects then took advantage of the owners' absence to access the interior and steal laptops, tablets, mobile phones, sunglasses, watches, bags and wallets, among other valuable items. According to the investigation, after the thefts, the detainees sent the loot via parcel services, wrapping the items in aluminium foil to avoid detection by authorities.
Searches and recovered items
During the searches carried out, officers seized numerous items used to commit the crimes, as well as part of the stolen goods. The recovered items have been returned to their rightful owners. The three detainees are charged with seven counts of theft from vehicles, in addition to alleged crimes of belonging to a criminal organisation and document forgery.
The Guardia Civil has placed the arrested individuals at the disposal of the judiciary and further arrests are not ruled out, as the investigation remains open to determine if the gang could be implicated in more thefts in the province of Málaga.
Tips to avoid becoming a victim of these thefts
In light of the possible use of signal blockers, the Benemérita advises drivers to manually check that the doors are locked before leaving the vehicle, especially in busy car parks. It is also advisable to avoid leaving valuable items such as laptops, bags, watches or mobile phones in plain sight. For residents of the Costa del Sol, a simple measure like pulling the door handle can prevent more than one unpleasant surprise.
The operation, carried out by officers from the Main Post in Mijas, has been coordinated with other Guardia Civil units in the province. The detainees, whose nationality has not been disclosed, operated in various locations across the Málaga region, leading investigators to suspect that it was an organised group.
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