The Civil Guard of the Main Post of Morro Jable, within the framework of operation “Buzunare MJ”, has investigated thirteen as alleged perpetrators of 21 thefts and four scams, in addition to arresting five of them, three of them at the moment of committing the crimes. These criminal groups also operated in Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, taking advantage of areas with high tourist influx.
The investigation originated several months ago, when agents received multiple complaints from victims who had suffered pickpocketing. In most cases, the thefts occurred in places frequented by tourists, where the perpetrators took advantage of the crowds to act undetected.
Given the growing concern of the tourism sector, the Research Area of the Morro Jable Main Post initiated the necessary procedures to clarify the facts. In a first phase, the analysis of the security cameras in the affected locations made it possible to determine that the perpetrators were Romanian citizens who acted on specific dates of the year, coinciding with periods of greatest tourist influx.
Next, in a second phase, discreet surveillance was established by investigators and patrol deployments were intensified in strategic areas, with the collaboration of the Local Police of the Pájara City Council. These measures made it possible to identify several members of the criminal groups, providing key information for the advancement of the investigation.
One of the most notable moments occurred on January 26, when an undercover agent surprised two individuals from the same clan committing a theft on a busy avenue in Morro Jable. The agent managed to apprehend one of them on the spot, although the second managed to escape.
A few days later, on January 30, during a static surveillance, two other officers intercepted a man and a woman as they were opening the backpack of elderly tourists to rob them. This arrest helped to clarify new events and reinforce the evidence gathered against the group.
Thanks to all these efforts, operation “Buzunare MJ” has allowed the clarification of 25 crimes against property, the imputation of 13 people for their authorship, and the arrest of 5 of them. In addition, part of the effects stolen from the victims has been recovered.
The detainees were brought before the judicial authorities, along with the proceedings carried out, before the Instruction Section of the Court of Instance on duty in Puerto del Rosario.
