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ISSUE NO. 1727
9 - 15 August 2018
Newspaper in Spain 2017 & 2018
MALLORCA
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WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
‘State of shock’
Expats held in heist probe BREAK IN: 12 suspects have been held.
By Tara Rippin TEN expatriates have been held after a balaclava-clad, knife- wielding gang stormed into the Mallorcan home of two sisters in their 80’s. After a lengthy investigation, officers involved in ‘operation castle wing’ uncovered a well-organised gang of criminals responsible for the theft and disposal of €50,000 concealed in a safe at the annex connected to the Es Verger restaurant in Alaro. A police spokesperson confirmed three men wearing balaclavas broke down the door before threatening and intimidating the elderly victims, owners of the business. The gang, aged between 21 and 29, and of Polish, German and Maghrebi origin and living in the Arenal area of Palma and Inca, were found to have orchestrated and carried out the raid in May. The subsequent arrests
were carried out over an almost eight-week period. Although the elderly victims suffered minor injuries, they were extremely shaken up and cared for by health services after the raid. The spokesperson added: “This was because of the state of shock caused by the violence of the event and the
situation of superiority held by the offenders.” Along with the raiders, two further accomplices allegedly carried out surveillance work abroad to dispose of the cash and arrange an escape vehicle, while another four are believed to be responsible for ‘receiving and concealing.’ “The
Guardia Civil has made arrests for the crimes of cover up and reception, and helping the offenders to divert some of the money through transfers to Morocco via money transfer companies,” added the spokesperson. “They acted under a preconceived plan and had detailed information about the
objective that made the investigators suspect the existence of a person linked to, or who could be, the restaurant which the victims ran.” This triggered the arrest of a cooperator, who is said to have provided information leading to the leader of
the gang. Various precautions were used to avoid detection, including using three different telephone lines within a two- month period. The investigation has revealed large amounts of money had been spent on leisure, clothing and games, and more than €11,000 at a roulette table in Palma in a single night.