These are the authors of the robbery with hostages at a bank branch on Juan Carlos I Avenue in the capital of the Region last October
The National Police arrested five members of an itinerant criminal group specialized in committing bank robberies and who used firearms to intimidate in the Region of Murcia and other communities. The ‘modus operandi’ used by those arrested, of Italian origin, was to constantly change their address and city, evidencing great geographical mobility along the Catalan coast, Alicante, Murcia and Malaga, according to the National Police.
The investigation allowed to clarify two robberies committed in the months of September and October in banking entities of Alicante and Murcia. In addition, the Police carried out three searches in Barcelona, Orihuela (Alicante) and Marbella (Málaga) in which numerous clothes and other items used in the execution of the robberies were involved, as well as 49,000 euros in cash in 50 and 100 euro bills.
The investigation of the agents began last October when the agents learned of the commission of a robbery at a bank in Murcia. In said robbery, the authors immobilized the employees and customers who were inside with cable ties and stole 344,335 euros. After the first investigations, the investigators warned that this event was related to another that occurred a month earlier also in a bank branch in Alicante, in which two individuals intimidated those present with pistols.
Finally, the agents had sufficient evidence to link both robberies, determining that the perpetrators belonged to a criminal group of Italian origin, specifically from Naples, specialized in committing violent bank robberies. In the police efforts, the high standard of living of the members of the criminal group was verified, which could not be justified with any work activity. Numerous trips, attendance at restaurants, car rental and hotel accommodation in various Spanish cities were reflected in the investigations.
Background
The five detainees have a record of robberies and other crimes against property in Spain, Italy and Belgium. In addition, one of them had been sentenced by the Italian justice to 14 years in prison in relation to crimes of robbery, kidnapping and criminal association. Two of the material authors of the robberies have entered prison by court order while efforts continue to try to locate a sixth member of the criminal group, and material author of a robbery in Murcia, pending arrest.
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