ARCHIVED - Tourists from Alicante and Murcia amongst 60 targeted by credit card thieves

The victim's cars were broken into in Callosa de Segura and Bigastro in Alicante province on the Costa Blanca.

Two men have been arrested in connection with more than 60 thefts from cars in Callosa de Segura and Bigastro in which tourists from Murcia, Valencia, Alicante, Albacete, Avila and Cuenta provinces were targeted.

Specifically, victims from the Alicante province had travelled from the Vega Baja and Benidorm and Villajoyosa in the Marina Baixa.

An investigation was launched after police noticed a significant increase in the number of thefts from cars at a car park at a natural area popular with climbers and hikers in Callosa de Segura.

The two suspects, aged 25 and 29, allegedly lay in wait until the tourists had set off up the nearby mountain before breaking into their cars and stealing whatever they could, but in most cases credit cards which they used to make small purchases to avoid having to use a PIN number.

Police soon linked the thefts to a number of similar offences at a campsite in Bigastro, where the pair were arrested on May 24 after analysing evidence and statements from victims.

The two have since appeared before a court in Orihuela and been released on bail.

IMAGE: Guardia Civil