The Guardia Civil arrested a 27-year-old Romanian woman, accused of at least seven cases of theft using the 'abrazo cariñoso' or 'friendly hug' on elderly victims.
She has numerous previous arrests for this kind of theft all along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. As the amount stolen each time is classified as petty theft, no soon caught, she is back out on the streets.
The Almuñécar incidents took place starting this year and all of the victims have been elderly who had been ‘liberated’ of items of jewellery and watches. This caused social alarm amongst the older generation in Almuñécar.
The last case occurred on the 17th of this month on Avenida de Guadix and involved a 90-year-old, female victim.
The victim reported the theft at the Guardia Civil post where they already had a pretty good idea who it was as the victim was shown mug shots and the accused was immediately identified.
The previous incidents took place on the 25th of April, the 15th, 21st and 30th of May and the 9th, 16th and 17th of June. The Police finally found her on the Paseo del Altillo, no doubt looking for another victim, the police consider.
Editorial comment: She should have been stuck on the next plane to Romania ages ago.
(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)
I, also was a victim, in Salobrena. A gold chain which would be nice to have back.
She had a friend waiting in a car not far away.
Prudence: In your case then, given the value of the item, she would go to prison.
I was a victim.A gold necklace was stolen.This was not petty theft.
I’m sure Patrick is right, within the EU she can stay . But there are people in La Herradura who would contribute to her ticket back as she did a sweep through here 2 weeks ago, one of my Bridge Club ladies lost her necklace in the action, and most victims will not take the trouble to report the problem in Spanish. So the Guardia cannot do much about it other than warn other people about the risk of wearing expensive ornaments along the paseo
She should, so why hasn’t she? Repeat stealing is a good enough reason.
Oh wait. Isn’t Romania part of the EU? So we cannot send her back? Or maybe she has children, or a hidden disability, or her human rights?