Spanish authorities have apprehended and arrested three Albanian nationals accused of stealing a vehicle valued at 40,000 euros in Italy.
 |
| Guardia Civil checking the Albanian passports of the perpetrators, one of which clearly shows the border crossing stamps, source: Guardia Civil |
Spanish authorities have apprehended and arrested three Albanian nationals accused of stealing a vehicle valued at 40,000 euros in Italy. The suspects had altered the vehicle's original license plates, replacing them with those from a car registered in Luxembourg, local media say.
The Investigation Begins
The investigation started on April 29 when the main post of the Civil Guard in Altea received a phone call from Italy. A woman reported the theft of her car, valued at approximately 40,000 euros, in her home country. According to the complainant, the car's Global Positioning System (GPS) indicated its location on a street in Altea.
Swift Action by Civil Guard and Local Police
In response to this information, several units of the Civil Guard, along with a patrol from the Altea Local Police, were immediately dispatched to the location. Upon arrival, they found a vehicle that matched the description provided in the theft report. The car was parked in front of a house, but it bore Luxembourgish license plates.
Discovery and Arrest
Near the house, agents identified three individuals who initially claimed to be the owners of the vehicle and stated that they had been living in the house for a week. After checking the vehicle's chassis number, the agents confirmed it was indeed the stolen car from Italy, which had been flagged in the Schengen Information System by Italian authorities. The vehicle had been fitted with false license plates to avoid detection.
Legal Proceedings
The three individuals, two men and one woman aged between 28 and 38 years, all of Albanian nationality, were arrested for vehicle theft and document forgery. The arrested individuals, along with the seized vehicle, were brought before Investigative Court No. 1 in Benidorm. The court has ordered their release under judicial supervision.
This incident highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies across Europe to combat transnational crime and ensure that stolen property is returned to its rightful owners.