The Spanish police announced the arrest of six members of a gang specialized in burglarizing the homes of football players in and around Madrid, according to international newspapers. A police statement on Wednesday mentioned that the group chose their victims after studying photos and videos of the players’ homes shared by the players, their families, and friends on social media.
The police stated that the gang was responsible for eight burglary operations over the past two years in affluent residential areas in Madrid. In one of the burglaries in May, the group members stole watches and jewelry worth approximately 500,000 euros. The police added that the gang then attempted to sell the stolen goods on the black market. During the arrests, officers confiscated 10 watches, several pieces of jewelry, 3,300 euros in cash, and two air guns in the raids.
The arrests were part of a crackdown on a spate of burglaries targeting LaLiga footballers’ homes around Madrid. The criminal group, which included three Albanians and a Spaniard, was involved in burglaries across various regions, not just Madrid but also Asturias and Castile and Leon. Notable victims of these burglaries included well-known figures from Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.