Gang Arrested in Benidorm for Stealing Wallets and Making Purchases with Cards

The National Police have arrested three alleged members of a criminal group based in Benidorm dedicated to wallet theft and subsequent online fraud. Two of the detainees were responsible for the thefts, while the other allegedly facilitated the fraudulent use of credit cards at the POS terminals of the establishment where he worked, according to police sources.

The arrest occurred just twenty minutes after the wallet was stolen at the same venue where the bank credentials had been used, thanks to the police deployment carried out by the on-duty officers.

The call to the 091 Cimacc Room from a foreign tourist returning to his holiday apartment in the early hours, who had his wallet stolen by a man who fled in a high-powered vehicle driven by another, alerted the city's on-duty patrols, who coordinated to carry out a deployment in the vicinity.

While one of the units interviewed the victim, the rest deployed through the streets of the city's old town leisure and dining area, as the victim was receiving notifications on his mobile phone about charges made on his cards, with up to nine payment transactions occurring.

Minutes later, the officers found a vehicle matching the description given by the victim, parked in front of an establishment whose name matched one of the last charges mentioned by the victim.

Therefore, the police covered the exits of the venue to prevent a possible escape, observing three individuals conversing inside, two of whom tried to slip away unnoticed when the officers entered. One of the suspects was holding a product purchased at the location, as well as dollars, reais (Brazilian currency), and pounds sterling in his pockets.

Meanwhile, one of the officers discreetly observed the third alleged criminal - the venue manager - as he left the counter and headed to a corner where he threw four fragments of what appeared to be a credit card on the floor. Consequently, the officer retrieved these fragments and discovered they were one of the victim's cards. Additionally, a health card not in his name was also found in his pocket.

Finally, three POS terminals were found on the counter, along with purchase receipts matching the charges made on the victim's card, as well as 2,610 euros in cash inside the till, when the day's takings had been 3 euros.

For all these reasons, the officers arrested the three suspects as alleged perpetrators of theft, fraud, money laundering, and criminal group offences. All have been brought before the city's duty court following police proceedings.