Officers from the National Police in Jaén have concluded a significant operation leading to the arrest in Madrid of the alleged leader of an itinerant criminal group. This gang specialized in the criminal technique known as “sowing,” committing thefts in shopping center parking lots. The investigation, coordinated by the UDEV-PATRIMONIO of the Provincial Police Station of Jaén, received support from police units in Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes, Almería, Elche, and the Usera-Villaverde district of Madrid.
The arrested individual, a 31-year-old Peruvian national, faces charges of theft, payment fraud, and belonging to a criminal group. His lack of a criminal record in Spain complicated his location by investigators. The investigation identified three members of the organization, two of whom are already in prison. The group operated in different parts of the country, following a well-defined criminal pattern.
The “sowing” method involves distracting the victim by making them believe they have lost an item, which the criminals then use as an opportunity to steal valuable belongings, especially handbags or wallets containing documents and bank cards.
The inquiry began in June of last year following a complaint from a resident of Jaén. The incident occurred in a commercial establishment's parking lot, where one of the criminals alerted the victim about a supposedly dropped wallet. While the victim checked for this alleged oversight, another group member seized the opportunity to steal a handbag from inside the vehicle. Minutes later, the perpetrators traveled to a nearby town and made cash withdrawals using the stolen cards, obtaining nearly 1,000 euros.
Throughout the investigation, officers detected similar incidents in various parts of the national territory, confirming the existence of an itinerant and highly specialized criminal group. The criminals employed various distraction techniques to obtain bank cards and subsequently made quick withdrawals from ATMs, generating significant financial gains.
The operation highlights the importance of cooperation among different units of the National Police to combat criminal networks operating across multiple provinces. The arrest of the main suspect in Madrid represents a crucial step in dismantling this group, which had been active for months in various locations across Spain, including the province of Jaén. The National Police advises extreme caution in parking lots and commercial areas, especially when faced with distractions caused by strangers, and recommends not leaving personal belongings or valuables visible inside vehicles. The investigation remains open, and further actions are not ruled out.
