Costa Blanca Burglary Ring Busted! Are Your Homes Safe?

Three Arrested in Javea, Benissa and Teulada Home Burglary Spree

Costa Blanca Burglary Ring Busted! Are Your Homes ...

By Santiago Carneri • Published: 19 Jan 2026 • 7:26 • 1 minute read

Police raids recover stolen valuables and drugs. Credit: Guardia Civil

The Guardia Civil has apprehended three individuals—two men and one woman, aged between 39 and 44—suspected of orchestrating a string of burglaries across several towns on the Costa Blanca. The arrests, part of what authorities are calling "Operation Chimpum25," also involve allegations of drug trafficking and membership in a criminal organization.

The investigation kicked off last November after a noticeable uptick in home break-ins, especially in a residential area of Javea. The thieves seemed to have a particular taste for jewelry, cash, and those must-have gadgets. They also targeted designer clothes and accessories, according to preliminary reports. But it soon became apparent that this wasn't just a local problem. The Guardia Civil reported on January 15th that similar patterns of criminal activity were popping up in Teulada, Benissa, and even as far away as Cullera.

What really got the attention of the local Guardia Civil in Javea was the consistency of the burglaries. Each one involved forced entry through doors or windows while the residents were away. It's the kind of thing that really rattles a community, I can tell you, so the police understandably launched a full-scale investigation.

The operational phase wasn't exactly a walk in the park, it sounds like. The suspects apparently knew a thing or two about avoiding detection, using counter-surveillance techniques and constantly switching between rental cars to throw off anyone following them. Imagine trying to track that!

Eventually, though, the Guardia Civil managed to pinpoint the suspects' location. In December, supported by the Valencia Reserve and Security Group No. 3, the Alicante Canine Unit, and the Javea Territorial Judicial Police Team, they raided two properties in Benidorm linked to the group.

And it sounds like the raids were fruitful. They recovered a mountain of stolen loot, along with the clothing and tools used in the burglaries. They also seized an air rifle, various electronic devices, and a veritable pharmacy of illicit drugs, including cocaine, pink cocaine, amphetamine pills, heroin, and methamphetamine. I tell you, it's a sobering reminder of what's bubbling just below the surface in even the most idyllic places.

This operation, so far, has helped close the book on nine burglaries across Javea, Benissa, Teulada-Moraira, Cullera, and Tibi. The suspects are now facing charges related to those burglaries, as well as drug trafficking and being part of a criminal organization. From what I understand, the two men are being held in custody pending further proceedings.

The authorities are confident that this bust has not only brought a sense of security back to the affected communities but has also recovered a considerable amount of stolen property. Many of these items, I hear, have already been returned to their rightful owners, which is always a good feeling.

Santiago is a freelance journalist, writer, photographer, and documentary producer with over a decade of experience reporting from Paraguay and Brazil. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Vice News, BBC, Associated Press, France Press, Der Spiegel, Deutsche Welle, El País, and more. Now based in Dénia—his self-described secret paradise—Santi contributes to Euro Weekly News, bringing a global perspective to both local and international stories. Outside of journalism, he enjoys boxing and cultivating his home garden.