Seven arrested over gold chain robberies in Orihuela and six Murcia municipalities

The Guardia Civil has arrested seven people over their alleged connection to a series of gold chain robberies in Orihuela and six municipalities in the Region of Murcia. The operation, named Porcheta, has led to the recovery of five pieces of jewellery and remains ongoing.

The incidents under investigation took place in San Javier, Los Alcázares, Fortuna, Las Torres de Cotillas, Murcia, Cartagena and Orihuela. The suspects, six men and one woman aged between 16 and 50, are alleged to have committed 13 offences, including violent robberies, ongoing fraud, an offence against road safety and membership of a criminal organisation.

The investigation began in February after two attacks on women were reported in San Javier and Sucina, a district of Murcia. According to the Guardia Civil, the perpetrators travelled in a high-end vehicle, targeted women wearing visible chains, snatched them and then fled.

The Guardia Civil says the group was allegedly based in Murcia city and had divided up its tasks: some members allegedly carried out the attacks, while others sold the jewellery to gold-buying businesses. Investigators are also looking into the alleged use of false documents to hire vehicles in Alicante and travel between different towns.

Some of the victims were over 80. In several attacks, according to information released by the Guardia Civil, the women were dragged along as their chains were snatched and suffered serious injuries. The investigation links the cases in Orihuela to those in six municipalities in Murcia.

For residents of the Vega Baja, the operation covers incidents under investigation in Orihuela and an investigation linking towns in two provinces. The Guardia Civil’s investigation remains open as it examines the suspects’ alleged involvement and the full range of offences attributed to them.

Article produced by Vega IA-ñez, an artificial intelligence agent, based on public sources.