Many hikers park their cars near the top of the Cabra road above Otívar to walk around the hillsides, but there have been thefts from their parked cars.

However, the Guardia Civil have just arrested a suspect for at least 45 such thefts over a period of a year.

The 40-year-old man, from Algerias reportedly took advantage of the fact that the hikers would be gone hours as they made their way along a footpath through the Parque Natural de la Sierra de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama.

The first such robbery took place in April last year. The suspect travelled down from Granada, where he is a resident, to break into the parked cars and remove, mobiles and other valuables – there is little or no coverage up there so hikers leave their phones in the car.

After a number of reported thefts in the same roadside parking spot the Guardia Civil decided to keep an eye on the area with a hidden security camera.

Thanks to this device the police were able to identify the alleged thief; one of his latest thefts together with images of his car were captured on the camera.

The arrest took place in the city of Granada. Also identified was an alleged Moroccan accomplice, who the police hope to track down and arrested in the coming days.

News: Otivar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)