A woman was assaulted by a violent street thief who later got caught by the police following a trail of banknotes he left behind. The incident occurred in Alicante after the thief stole a bag containing €5,800 (£5,000) in cash that the woman had won at a local casino.
The victim, who had just left a gaming saloon and was walking to her hotel in Alicante city centre, was approached by the thief under the pretense of asking for a cigarette. During the interaction, she accidentally dropped a €50 note from her bag. Moments later, the thief attacked her, grabbing her bag which held her money, documents, phone, and personal belongings.
Upon receiving reports of the incident, officers swiftly arrived at the scene and set up a cordon to block the thief’s escape routes. Within minutes, they apprehended the 46-year-old perpetrator as he attempted to flee, with banknotes scattering from the stolen bag onto the street. The police found him with the victim’s bag in his possession and numerous banknotes concealed in his pockets, along with additional notes scattered on the pavement.
During the arrest, the suspect was described as uncooperative before being taken into custody by the Policia Nacional. This incident comes in the wake of a series of similar street crimes in Alicante, with scammers targeting individuals at cashpoints in the area.
Authorities have cautioned ATM users in Alicante to remain vigilant against theft tactics like ‘sowing,’ a distraction method commonly used by criminals. Recent police actions have led to the arrest of individuals involved in multiple theft incidents, indicating the presence of organized crime groups operating not only in Spain but also in other European cities and the United States.
The ‘sowing’ technique typically involves a duo where one distracts the victim by dropping a Euro note or ticket near the ATM while the other steals the victim’s cash during the distraction. Additionally, criminals may also capture the victim’s PIN, steal their card, and make unauthorized withdrawals from their bank account. Police advise individuals to ignore such distractions and remain focused while using ATMs to prevent falling victim to these schemes.