MADRID: On Friday, Spanish police announced the arrest of a criminal gang that had been breaking into the homes of Ukrainian refugees and stealing valuables worth over 1 million euros.
Those 10 people “had specialized in this type of victim since they usually bring all their savings and valuables,” according to a statement released by Spain’s Guardia Civil police.
The statement also noted that the suspects may have broken into seven homes of Ukrainian refugees in the eastern provinces of Alicante and Murcia on Spain’s Mediterranean coast.
The police reported that they had recovered a stamp collection worth about half a million euros, jewelry, computers, and cash totaling 1.25 million euros ($1.32 million).
The gang may have used trackers installed on victims’ vehicles to “study their routines” and figure out when the victims were not at home.
Seven Ukrainians and three Russians were arrested, according to the police, who did not rule out finding more victims and making more arrests as the investigation continued.
After fleeing their war-torn homeland, 161,000 Ukrainians have found refuge in Spain, where they have been granted temporary status protection.
