National Police have arrested three suspected members of a travelling criminal gang in Torrevieja, accused of stealing jewellery worth more than 50,000 euros. The arrests were carried out on Thursday 26 March as part of Operation Iocus.

Police say the group specialised in distraction thefts, mainly targeting jewellery shops. The suspects allegedly entered premises posing as customers and asked to see various items. To gain the trust of staff, they displayed large bundles of banknotes before distracting employees and stealing as many pieces as possible.

The investigation began last August after officers detected the group’s presence in Zaragoza. Detectives later linked the suspects to offences in several provinces, including Zaragoza, Vizcaya, Málaga, Toledo and Alicante. In total, eight thefts have been confirmed.

Police say the group operated in a coordinated and organised way, with members assigned specific roles. After being identified, a police operation led to their arrest in Torrevieja. The three suspects, described as repeat offenders, appeared before a judge and were released on bail pending further proceedings.