The string of robberies, spanning years and all following a similar pattern, had left Spanish police perplexed.
Late at night as residents slept, the thieves – dressed in black and with their faces covered – would gain entry to some of Ibiza’s most exclusive homes, often making off with thousands of euros in stolen goods. The victims frequently reported the same groggy feeling when they woke up, leading police to suspect that the perpetrators were using some sort of gas to induce drowsiness.
On Sunday police said they had arrested two men and one woman accused of robbing at least 22 luxury homes in Ibiza during the span of five years.
#OperacionesGC
— Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) September 1, 2024
Detenida una banda de ladrones de viviendas de lujo en Ibiza, utilizaban algún tipo de gas que producía somnolencia para no despertar a los moradores que se encontraban durmiendo en el momento de los roboshttps://t.co/N1NbHM5G2O pic.twitter.com/okc7d9DeA8
The arrest comes one week after a villa rented by the former Radio 1 breakfast host, Nick Grimshaw, was reportedly targeted by thieves while he and his family and friends slept inside.
Police have not officially confirmed whether the three people who were arrested are believed to be connected to the robbery where Grimshaw was staying.
The thieves had been targeting homes since 2019, police said, making off with an estimated €548,500 (about £460,000) in stolen goods.
“The thieves entered the homes while the residents were asleep, always dressed in black to hide their faces,” they said in a statement. “Many of the victims reported to police that they felt groggy when they woke up, along with discomfort such as vomiting and dizziness, so it is believed that the alleged perpetrators used some kind of gas that caused drowsiness.”
Police said they located the alleged perpetrators after tracing several stolen vehicles. A police raid on a property had turned up numerous items that had been reported missing after the robberies, such as high-end watches, jewellery and designer sunglasses and handbags.
Video footage released by the police on Sunday appeared to show masked intruders combing through valuables and making their way through the grounds of a villa. The video also showed what appeared to be one of the victims confronting an alleged robber.
“If they happened to be caught during the robbery, they would leave the place in a hurry,” police noted.
