Seven Arrested for Armed Luxury Watch Thefts in Alicante

The National Police have arrested seven members, six men and one woman, of a criminal group specialising in the theft of luxury watches. The criminals used a gun to intimidate their victims, even striking one on the head with the gun butt on one occasion.

The investigation began last February when officers became aware of a violent robbery involving a watch in Alicante. According to police sources, the victim reported being struck on the head upon leaving a nightclub, after which two men took his watch and quickly fled the scene.

As the investigation progressed, officers learned of two more robberies involving intimidation in Valencia and Alicante just two weeks after the initial incident. In both cases, the thieves used a firearm to seize the watch and escaped on a motorcycle.

The National Police confirmed that the members of this itinerant group were highly specialised, committing crimes within minutes and being familiar with the areas where they operated. The criminals were adept at recognising high-end watches, which yielded the most profit due to their scarcity in the second-hand market.

Following the necessary investigations and once the suspects were identified, the National Police launched a police operation on April 29, resulting in the arrest of six individuals in Madrid and another in Cuenca. They are suspected of three counts of belonging to a criminal group, three robberies with violence and intimidation, assault, and offences against public health. After appearing in court, two of the detainees have been remanded in custody.