Three people have been arrested at Tenerife North Airport while trying to leave the island with a haul of stolen jewellery linked to a series of break-ins in Santa Cruz the capital of Tenerife.
The suspects were stopped as they attempted to board a flight to mainland Spain at the end of May.
Police had already identified the group several days earlier during a patrol in Santa Cruz, triggering a surveillance operation to track their movements and prevent their escape.
They believe the group is behind at least 19 burglaries across three residential areas of the city, using what police described as a “sophisticated and highly organised” method.
The suspects used several methods, including the ‘slip method’ to open doors without forcing them. First, they would discreetly mark properties using small objects or markings on door frames to check whether the homes were occupied. Then they used ‘bumping’, a lock-picking technique that leaves no visible damage, to break in.
Once inside, they targeted valuables that were easy to carry, mainly jewellery, while taking steps to avoid leaving fingerprints or DNA. Two members would enter the property while a third kept watch outside, ready to alert them if police arrived.
During the searches, officers found around 1.5 kilos of gold jewellery, much of it loose and likely meant to be melted down and sold abroad. Some of the stolen items have already been returned to six victims.
The investigation is still ongoing, and police say further arrests are possible. A search is currently underway for a fourth suspect who managed to evade the initial operation. His details have already been circulated on law enforcement channels.
