The incident unfolded in the early morning hours of last Wednesday, when officers from the Salobreña Civil Guard Post were conducting a public safety patrol on the GR5300 road. This area had previously seen a theft of 300 liters of diesel from an excavator the night before, as reported by the Armed Institute.

Upon approaching the site, officers spotted an individual on top of the machine. Noticing the police presence, he attempted to flee and hid in nearby construction pipes. After a brief search, the civil guards located him, and seeing no escape, he emerged from his hiding place.

During the intervention, officers heard additional noises, leading them to suspect the presence of more individuals. A detailed inspection revealed a second person hidden beneath the excavator.

A subsequent visual inspection confirmed that both were siphoning fuel from the machine's tank. A hose was found connected to a jerry can containing approximately seven liters of diesel. Additionally, another 20-liter jerry can was found full, and seven more were prepared for filling. Fuel-stained tools were also discovered, presumably used to force open the tank and facilitate the extraction.