Eight Arrested in Tenerife for Violent Robberies
Eight individuals have been arrested by the Guardia Civil in Tenerife, linked to a prominent criminal organisation responsible for violent robberies in commercial establishments across the island.
The arrested suspects face a total of 34 charges, including violent theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. Three of the suspects have been remanded in custody.
The police operation included four home searches, uncovering numerous stolen items such as jewellery, tobacco, a police badge, a replica firearm, knuckle dusters, tasers, and rental vehicle keys.
The investigation was triggered by a rise in assaults on service stations, restaurants, and shops, creating alarm among local business owners due to the aggressiveness displayed by the robbers.
After four months of inquiry, officials identified eight members of the group and mapped their criminal activities. The suspects had been using rented or stolen vehicles, switching number plates frequently to evade detection. They also employed surveillance tactics and scouted areas before carrying out their crimes, abandoning vehicles in “cooling-off” zones to further distance themselves from the offences.
The robberies predominantly occurred at night, with the attackers wearing masks and armed with large knives, tasers, and blunt objects to intimidate their victims. They executed the crimes in a matter of minutes, showing significant aggression.
Over €60,000 in Stolen Goods
The stolen items included safes containing daily takings, large sums of cash, payments machines, tobacco, and other valuables, totalling over €60,000. The damage caused to the affected establishments exceeded €100,000.
Due to the group’s dangerousness, a large police operation was launched just before they were set to commit another robbery. At the time of their arrest, the suspects were found with various intimidating items, including large knives, tasers, masks, and clothing to conceal their identities.
The operation was conducted by the Guardia Civil’s Judicial Police Unit, in collaboration with investigation teams from El Puerto de la Cruz and Playa de las Américas, supported by the Reserve and Security Group No. 8 and the Canine Unit.
