The Curious Method of Theft by a Man Arrested in Elche

More than 500 were stolen by a man arrested in Elche by the National Police and a woman who is still being sought using the curious method known as "the sowing." Officers have arrested a 35-year-old man as the alleged perpetrator of a theft after the victim left a bank branch.

The incident was reported following a call to the CIMACC 091 room, stating that several citizens were chasing a man who appeared to have committed a robbery.

A citizen security patrol quickly arrived at the indicated address, observing how several citizens had detained a young man, who turned out to be the alleged perpetrator of the acts.

After interviewing the victim, the agents stated that moments earlier, upon leaving a bank branch, he headed to his vehicle, and once inside, a woman tapped on his window to warn him that there were thumbtacks behind his car. When he got out to check, he saw another man open the passenger door and steal an envelope containing 500 euros and various cards. Realizing what had happened, he chased the alleged perpetrator, who fled, managing to catch him with the help of passersby who witnessed the incident.

Once arrested, the agents conducted several sweeps through the adjacent streets to locate the woman accompanying him, but she was not found in the vicinity.

The detainee, after the completion of police procedures, has been brought before the duty court of instruction in the town of Elche.

The investigation remains open to locate the woman, an accomplice of the detainee who distracted the victim to carry out the criminal act.

This method, known as the "sowing scam," is usually committed in groups with a clear division of tasks. One of the perpetrators performs surveillance functions on victims at ATMs, bank branches, supermarkets, or shopping centers and marks them for the rest to follow. This way, the criminal group always ensures that the person who suffers the theft carries money or high-value items.

Then, in the vicinity of the bank or after following the victim to a parking lot or gas station, another of the perpetrators drops several bills next to the victim and accuses them of being theirs and having dropped them. When the victim bends down to pick them up, the person who warns them or a third party takes advantage to steal cards and valuables that the victim has left unattended in the rush to collect the bills.