A 64-year-old man has been arrested in Elche after allegedly leaving his mobile phone behind in a property he had broken into and later calling to arrange its return. The burglary took place in the early hours of 25 June at a ground-floor flat undergoing renovation.

The owner contacted police after finding the front door damaged and several items missing, including a high-end bicycle valued at around 1,500 euros and a number of collectible toy cars. Inside the property, he also found a mobile phone that did not belong to him.

While officers from the National Police were at the scene, the phone began to ring. The caller asked to meet in Plaza Primero de Mayo to recover the device, apparently unaware he was speaking to police. Officers set up a discreet operation and identified the suspect at the agreed location, where some of the stolen toy cars were found in his bag.

The man, a resident of Elche originally from Orihuela, allegedly admitted entering the property with his brother, who he claimed had the stolen bicycle. He has been detained on suspicion of burglary, and investigations are continuing to locate the bicycle and identify the second suspect.