The arrests took place on March 30 in Palencia, following an exhaustive investigation spanning several years. The perpetrators, of Italian origin, were known as the 'ghost' gang due to their extreme caution in leaving no traces and avoiding being linked to their criminal acts. They are implicated in 21 thefts from jewelry stores across the national territory, with a haul exceeding 500,000 euros in jewelry.

The gang's modus operandi was consistent: two women would enter a jewelry store and, while feigning interest in various products, would take advantage of an employee's distraction to steal a jewelry display, concealing it in a scarf or bag. They would then leave the establishment calmly and without arousing suspicion. This technique was observed in thefts in Granada, Asturias, Logroño, Murcia, Palencia, Valencia, Almería, Albacete, Badajoz, Alicante, Sevilla, and Castellón.

The investigation began after identifying a similar theft in Zaragoza in 2012, where an Italian citizen was arrested whose physical characteristics matched one of the perpetrators of more recent robberies. This lead established a permanent police cooperation channel with the Polizia di Stato, revealing that the woman was part of an international criminal group. The criminals conducted 'campaigns' of four or five days in Spain, changing vehicles and phones, and avoiding hotel registrations to hinder their location. A key piece of information was the lodging of an Italian citizen, a presumed accomplice, in towns near the theft locations.

The presence of the four suspects in Spain on March 30, with the clear intention of committing new crimes, triggered a police operation that culminated in their arrest the following day in Palencia. Among their belongings were clothes used during the previous crimes and 4,000 euros in cash. Additionally, a search warrant was executed at the home of one of the main suspects in Italy. Some of the cleared crimes date back a decade.