A man has been arrested in Cartagena as part of a Guardia Civil operation into a series of thefts across Cabo de Palos, El Algar and Pilar de la Horadada. Officers linked him to around a dozen property offences, including the theft of a van and a motorcycle, as well as break-ins to several cars and a petrol station.

The investigation, known as Operation Chichar, began after an increase in reported thefts in Cabo de Palos and El Algar. Detectives carried out forensic inspections and surveillance operations, eventually tracing a stolen van to a communal garage in Cabo de Palos, where they also connected the suspect to a stolen motorcycle.

Police said the man acted compulsively and committed up to five vehicle break-ins in a single night in El Algar, typically smashing windows and stealing cash or electronic items to sell on. He allegedly worked with at least one accomplice, who has now been identified.

Officers have recovered the stolen van and motorcycle and returned them to their owners. They also seized cash, lottery tickets and 3,000 euros in counterfeit notes found on the suspect at the time of his arrest. The investigation remains ongoing.