Spanish tourism hotspot warning as gang of thieves use drone to rob unsuspecting victims
Thieves have been using drones to steal from people in Spain
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Thieves in popular Spanish tourist spots have used drones to track down and steal from people withdrawing large sums of money.
The five men involved in the operation have been accused of 22 crimes in a multitude of areas, including Alicante, Murica, and the Balearic Islands.
The men stole over €122,000, according to the Guardia Civil. They used the drone to follow prospective targets who had taken out large sums of money.
From one victim, the gang - who operated in Torrevieja, San Miguel de Salinas, El Campello and San Pedro del Pinatar - stole an eye-watering €63,000.
Thieves have been using drones to steal from people in SpainGettyThe crew would either create a diversion to sneakily take the cash, or in some cases, simply grab the money out of the victim’s hands.
Police searched various properties where the men resided, and discovered €1,584 in cash.
They also found a drone, 12 sunglasses, clothes and accessories that they used to mask their identities, a smoke canister, special tools for breaking vehicle windows and for puncturing tyres, binoculars, a torch, two laptops valued at €2,400 and a walkie-talkie.
All five have been charged with robbery with violence, robbery with force, fraud, damage, document forgery, and belonging to a criminal group.
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They were bailed by a court in Torrevieja.
Spain is currently being flooded with anti-tourism protesters, who are calling for holidaymakers all across the country to “go home”.
A recent disruption in Majorca saw around 15,000 protesters work their way through Palma, whilst in Ibiza, another protest took place with around 1,000 demonstrators.
After the pandemic, many remote workers have been moving to Spain for a cheaper and sunnier life. This, coupled with expats often earning more than the locals, has resulted in many residents feeling like they are being pushed out.
Locals across Spain have been staging anti-tourism protests
GettyStickers have been plastered on buildings, reading: “More tourists? No thanks”, “Stop Tourism” and “Tourists go home — you are not welcome here.”
However, anti-tourist protesters in Majorca have been warned that they “should be careful what they wish for" as demonstrations could be a "disaster" for their economy, according to industry experts.
Around 44 per cent of people will now think twice before booking a holiday to the island, a new poll by Majorca Daily Bulletin revealed.