Three Colombians arrested in Puerto Plata over RD$1 million theft in Santiago
The National Police arrested three Colombian citizens linked to the theft of one million pesos from a vehicle in Santiago. A fourth suspect remains at large.
Three Colombians arrested in Puerto Plata following one million peso theft in Santiago
The National Police detained three Colombian citizens in the car park of a shopping centre in Puerto Plata province, allegedly linked to the theft of RD$1,000,000 stolen from inside a vehicle in Santiago, reported elnuevodiario.com.do.
The reported incident occurred on 25 June, when an individual entered a citizen's vehicle—which was at a tyre repair shop on Avenida 27 de Febrero, Ensanche Ramos sector—and removed an envelope containing one million pesos in cash. Security cameras at the establishment recorded the incident.
Following investigations initiated after the report was filed, three Colombians were detained pursuant to arrest warrants—Nos. 2026-AJ0053995-1-2-3—Gustavo Andrés Rincón Granados, 38 years old; Edwin Santiago Osorio Rodríguez, 26; and Jefferson Trujillo Tovar, who were intercepted while travelling in a white Hyundai Elantra SE.
During the operation, authorities seized personal documents, mobile phones, bank cards and other belongings, as well as RD$494,295.00 and 294,000 Colombian pesos in cash, amounts which form part of the investigation.
The three detainees verbally admitted their involvement in the theft along with a fourth Colombian, identified as José Ricardo Gómez Martínez, who remains at large and is being sought through arrest warrant No. AJ0053995-4. According to the investigation, Gómez Martínez left the scene before the arrests, taking with him the remainder of the stolen money.
The accused stated that it was this individual who invited them to travel to the Dominican Republic for the purpose of committing thefts, using a modus operandi consisting of watching people leaving banking entities, following them and puncturing one of the tyres of their vehicles to distract them and facilitate the theft.
The investigation also established that the vehicle used by the accused was rented by the fugitive from a car rental company located in Santo Domingo Este, and that all of them were staying in a villa in Puerto Plata.
The National Police maintains an active search for Gómez Martínez, whilst the three detainees, together with the seized evidence, will be handed over to the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Source: Google News CL — Santiago