Man arrested in Santander for theft of van, handbag and bar robbery within seven days
Spanish National Police arrested a man in Santander accused of three thefts committed between 13 and 18 August. He was released on provisional liberty after appearing before a judge.
Three robberies in one week: man arrested in Santander for theft and burglary
Google News ES — Crime (es) reports that officers of the Spanish National Police have arrested a man in Santander to whom three offences committed over a seven-day period are attributed: the theft of a van in Entrambasaguas, the theft of a handbag at Paseo de Pereda and a burglary at a hospitality establishment near the S-20.
The handbag at Paseo de Pereda
On the night of 16 August, a woman sitting on a terrace at Paseo de Pereda noticed someone tampering with the handbag hanging from her chair. Upon turning around, she saw a man fleeing with it.
Several witnesses set off in pursuit. One of them managed to recover the handbag and return it to its owner, while others intercepted the thief and alerted police. The value of the handbag and its contents—a wallet with documents, cash and a mobile telephone—exceeded 400 euros.
The key to a van stolen days earlier
Once detained and taken to police headquarters, officers searched the arrested man and found documents belonging to someone else and a vehicle key. When they contacted the parents of the person to whom the documents belonged, they confirmed that two days earlier someone had stolen the company van used by their son, along with the personal documentation he kept inside.
The investigation allowed the vehicle to be linked to a report filed on 13 August with the Guardia Civil in Camargo: that morning, in El Bosque (Entrambasaguas), a company van had been stolen. The employees who used it had left it with the keys in the ignition whilst working. Inside were rucksacks containing documentation and personal effects belonging to several workers.
Police confirmed that the items found in the possession of the arrested man corresponded to the key of the stolen vehicle and documentation belonging to one of those employees. The van had been recovered by its owner two days after the theft, so it no longer carried a theft flag at the time of the investigation.
For these facts, the arrested man was charged with theft of property and unauthorised use of a vehicle, in addition to the theft of the handbag.
Burglary at a bar: 190 euros from the till
In the early hours of 18 August, the same man forced a metal shutter and broke the glass door of a hospitality establishment located near the S-20 in Santander to gain entry and take the cash register, which contained 190 euros.
An alarm centre alerted the Spanish National Police that a person wearing a hood was rummaging in the premises. A patrol unit travelled to the location and located an individual hiding behind a nearby bin, attempting to open the till.
Upon seeing the officers, the suspect threw the cash register to the ground alongside several notes and attempted to flee, but was immediately intercepted.
Released on provisional liberty
The man was arrested as the suspected perpetrator of burglary and taken to police premises. After appearing before a judge on all the charges, he was released on provisional liberty.
Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)