Two arrested in Madrid for stealing 16 steering wheels from luxury cars and committing fraud with bank cards
The Guardia Civil has arrested two individuals in Arroyomolinos with an extensive criminal history. They stripped high-end components from vehicles and used the owners' cards for fraudulent purchases.
Two arrested in Madrid for stealing 16 steering wheels from luxury cars and committing fraud with bank cards
Two men have been arrested in Arroyomolinos as those responsible for a series of thefts targeting high-end vehicles. Between February and the date of their capture, the detainees removed up to sixteen steering wheels from luxury vehicles, in addition to taking advantage of credit cards that drivers had left inside.
The operation began after the Guardia Civil noted a spike in car thefts in the Madrid municipality. Officers observed that the pattern was invariable: the burglars would break the windows to enter the vehicle and take exclusively the steering wheels, components in high demand on the illegal spare parts market, along with any valuable objects at hand.
The method was not limited to theft of components. The thieves also took possession of bank cards left in the glove compartment or storage compartments. Taking advantage of the contactless payment limit, they made rapid purchases at shops before the cardholders could alert their financial institutions.
The two arrested individuals, who are now at the disposal of the courts, have numerous previous convictions for crimes against property. They are now charged with seventeen robberies with force from vehicles—one attempted—and four continuous frauds.
The Guardia Civil considers this cell dismantled, which operated both on public streets and in underground car parks of residential complexes.
Source: ABC