The Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Santa Cruz de Tenerife asks a sentence of more than eight years in prison for a gang of people of Romanian origin settled in Tenerife who robbed tourists in different parts of the island although they also moved through the province of Las Palmas and Malaga.
The indictment, collected by Europa Press, indicates that the economic damage caused to those affected, normally retired European tourists, exceeds 32,000 euros.
In order not to be identified by the Police, the members of the band did not perform together but in three subgroups of three or four people and usually performed in airports, ports, hotels, holiday apartments, shopping centers or entertainment venues facing the coast.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, they always chose foreign tourists to “make it difficult” for them to report the facts immediately –they did it when they arrived in their country of origin– thus preventing their identification and prosecution of illegal activities.
The usual ‘modus operandi’ consisted of distracting the victim through a banal and invented conversation while another member of the gang seized suitcases, bags, jewelry, wallets, cards, computer or telephone devices or any other object of economic value.
The loot was incorporated into a common fund for later distribution and with credit cards they withdrew cash or bought tram tickets.
Also, to avoid being identified and raise suspicions for their actions, clothing and accessories such as jackets, pants, shirts or caps were exchanged.
The gang had a network of rented homes in the municipalities of Arona and Granadilla and contracts with rental companies to have at least two cars continuously.
The Prosecutor’s Office has detected, at least, about thirty robberies of touristsand the criminal network caused the affected parties a total damage of 32,862 euros consummated, while attempting fraudulent charges for a value of 1,405 euros.
Likewise, the different members of the band performed fraudulent charges through prepaid cards or wallet type for the amount of 15,487 euros.
The joint value of the effects stolen from tourists and affected, including cash, amounts to 18,104.43 euros.
The Prosecutor’s Office considers that the facts constitute the crimes of fraud, robbery with force, robbery with almost inhabited property and belonging to a criminal organization and also requests a joint compensation of 32,862 euros in favor of those affected plus the reinstatement of the amounts appraised by experts determine the sentence.
In order to repair the damage, each of the defendants has deposited 10,000 euros in court.
