The Guardia Civil has arrested a man suspected of leading a criminal gang dedicated to stealing high-end vehicles across the Region of Murcia and the Vega Baja area of Alicante. The arrest forms part of Operation ‘Tracker 26’, launched earlier this year after a driver discovered a GPS tracking device hidden underneath his car in San Pedro del Pinatar.

The owner reported seeing several individuals loitering near his vehicle in a shopping centre car park where he works. Later that day, he noticed the same car circling the area, prompting him to inspect his vehicle and find the device. Investigators analysed CCTV footage and identified the suspects and their vehicle.

Officers found the GPS devices contained SIM cards registered under false identities with a foreign company. Fingerprints were recovered for analysis. The main suspect, a Ukrainian national with previous convictions for vehicle theft, document forgery and assault, was also subject to an outstanding arrest warrant from a court in Torrevieja.

He was detained after allegedly committing a theft at a supermarket in Pilar de la Horadada. Police believe he is one of the leaders of a gang that selected vehicles in busy areas, fitted tracking devices and later stole them from quieter locations. The investigation remains ongoing and further arrests have not been ruled out.