'King of the break-in' arrested in Madrid: 25 thefts with a Serbian-Romanian network
Carlos F. G., known as 'Carlitos', has accumulated 25 arrests by the National Police alone and led a gang of eleven criminals from Spain, Serbia and Romania.
A BMW with false number plates ended the criminal alliance of the 'king of the break-in'
A BMW 530 xDrive saloon car, repeatedly captured by security cameras in the vicinity of several thefts in industrial parks in Madrid, was the first lead pulled by Group XXIV of the Provincial Judicial Police Brigade of Madrid. According to ABC, that vehicle—which the gang changed the registration plates on before each heist—led investigators to Carlos F. G., 40 years old, alias 'Carlitos', considered one of the most active burglars in the country and known in criminal circles as the "king of the break-in".
Carlos F. G. has accumulated 25 arrests in the National Police records alone, to which must be added as many more recorded by other police forces. A disciple of the late Cásper—godfather of an extensive Madrid criminal dynasty—this resident of southern Madrid is believed to have led several of the most active thief gangs in the region in recent years.
An alliance of eleven members with roles differentiated by nationality
The investigation by Group 24 began on 27 January 2024, when several individuals in two vehicles raided a company in Leganés engaged in the wholesale trade in hams, cured meats and cheeses. That first heist was followed by others in industrial parks in Getafe, San Blas, Fuencarral-El Pardo and Villa de Vallecas—including facilities within Mercamadrid—always with the same BMW appearing in the security images, though gradually supplemented with a Lexus, a Peugeot Partner and a Seat León.
Agents determined that behind the incidents was not a single gang, but an alliance: Carlitos and three Spanish accomplices—all born in the 1990s—alongside criminals from Serbia (5) and Romania (2), eleven involved in total. Police work established a division of roles differentiated by nationality, although the groups intermixed at times and exchanged vehicles. "They never all went to commit a theft, sometimes some did it and the next one, others", said police sources consulted by ABC.
Among the most prominent accomplices is Raúl V. I., alias 'Churrita', 33 years old, identified as one of the most reckless drivers during getaways from officers.
False number plates, stolen cars and 25 offences in a year and a half
In addition to falsifying the BMW's plates, the gang used stolen vehicles and had previously stolen several of those registration plates from other cars to hinder the investigation. Investigators gradually located the vehicles and identified their occupants.
Between January 2024 and June and July 2025, the alliance committed a total of 25 criminal acts: theft with force, vehicle theft and joyriding, fraud, falsification of documents, money laundering and membership of a criminal group. All the heists were carried out in the Community of Madrid except one, committed in Granollers (Barcelona), for which the Mossos d'Esquadra actively collaborated in the investigation.
Eleven arrested, three in custody, high-value items seized
On 15 June, agents from Group 24 carried out five simultaneous raids on homes of those investigated and arrested six of them that same day. The following four were arrested between 19 and 22 June, and the eleventh was arrested on 27 July.
In the searches, mobile phones, cameras, clothing and tools used in the thefts, high-end watches, televisions, video game consoles and large quantities of cash were seized. More than €6,000 was recovered from the two Romanians; €5,700 from one of the Serbians. After being brought before the courts, three of the eleven involved were remanded in custody; the rest were subject to various precautionary measures.
Source: ABC