An off-duty National Police officer has prevented a distraction theft against a 77-year-old man in Elche, according to the police headquarters in Alicante.

The victim had just left his home when he was approached by a car carrying two men and a woman. One of the men asked him about a cheap restaurant as a distraction, before another showed him a wallet containing a large amount of cash and asked about the gold chain around his neck, claiming he wanted to buy a gift for a relative.

As one suspect got out of the vehicle and touched the man’s neck, the victim spotted his neighbour, who he knew was a police officer, and signalled for help. The officer identified himself and saw that one of the suspects was holding a gold chain, which the victim recognised as his and valued at around 1,000 euros.

The officer called for backup and detained the three suspects until a uniformed patrol arrived. The two men and one woman, aged between 34 and 41 and all with previous records, were arrested on suspicion of theft and later brought before an investigating court in Elche.