The Civil Guard of Alicante, within the Major Security Plan, has arrested a man in the town of Calpe who was being sought for committing four thefts by means of the method known as the "cogotero". In the same action, a woman was identified who also had a police record for committing crimes related to this method. Both have been identified as members of a criminal organization dedicated to robbing the elderly.

On May 25, as part of the Major Security Plan, agents from the Investigation Area of ​​the Calpe Main Post carried out a prevention service in a confluence area of ​​banking entities in order to prevent the commission of thefts and robberies that are usually occur in such environments, and where the potential victims chosen by criminals are often older people.

During the performance of said service, the investigators observed two people in a suspicious attitude, a man and a woman, who at a distance interacted with each other pointing and marking the elderly people who left one of the bank offices. For this reason, the agents decided to identify them, but when they were surprised they fled the place in opposite directions.

Once the suspects were reached, they observed how they had changed their clothes so as not to be recognized and, once their affiliations were consulted, it was possible to verify how the police bases had different false identities that they had used in the commission of various crimes in different Spanish towns.

It was also proven that both were members of a criminal organization of "cogoteros" and that the man had a search and arrest warrant issued by the Main Post of the Civil Guard of Vinaroz, related to the commission of four crimes of theft committed through the “cogotero” method in the province of Castellón and Barcelona. Once these extremes were verified, he was arrested, informing the claimant body.

The fifty-year-old man of Chilean nationality has been placed at the disposal of the Guard Court of the Judicial District of Denia, which has ordered his release with precautionary measures.

The method used by the "cogoteros" consists in that, once the victim has been selected, he is entertained with any action, a moment that is used to steal the valuables without the latter, who is attentive to what they are indicating, realize what happened until it's too late.

The Civil Guard maintains the Major Security Plan active in the province, which includes police measures aimed at preventing and improving the security of our elders. In reference to the procedures that our elders can carry out with banking entities, the Civil Guard proposes the following advice:

-If you have to use an ATM, do not write down your card passwords, try to memorize them.

-Always monitor the surroundings and do not take out large amounts of money.

-If possible, direct your monthly payments to avoid going out with money.

-Try to be accompanied when you have to sign documents or have to make collections or payments of a certain importance.