Security forces in Loja have successfully apprehended a 24-year-old man, who is the alleged perpetrator of a continuous crime against property. He is accused of ten aggravated robberies carried out in the town during the latter half of April, affecting various establishments and properties.
The incidents began on April 18 with a theft from a hospitality establishment. Over the course of a week, the alleged culprit committed a dozen assaults at different locations within the municipality, including five shops and hospitality venues, two vehicles, a municipal parking meter, a home, and a socio-cultural center.
“"The repeated succession of such incidents in such a short period, even committing three consecutive robberies on the same day, generated a "notable social alarm" among the residents of the town."
The recurrence of these criminal acts in such a brief timeframe, with up to three robberies in a single day, caused significant concern among Loja residents. The Investigation Area and the ROCA Team of the Civil Guard of Loja, as part of operation Mekini, initiated an investigation following reports from the victims.
Initial police inquiries already pointed to a known local offender with a history of arrests and previous incidents of a similar nature. Finally, on April 24, the individual was caught in situ while robbing the socio-cultural center by a patrol from the Loja Local Police, who proceeded with the arrest with the support of Civil Guard agents.
This latest incident, combined with the analysis of CCTV footage and information gathered from police sources and witnesses, allowed investigators to identify the man "without a doubt" as the alleged perpetrator of a continuous crime of aggravated robbery. After being brought before the court, he was remanded in custody. The Civil Guard has stated that the investigation remains open to determine his possible involvement in 26 other criminal acts that occurred in the town since January of this year.
