Guardia smash crime gang linked to more than 150 break-ins 

THE Guardia Civil has broken up a gang held responsible for more than 150 break-ins in 13 provinces. 

According to the Guardia the criminal organisation specialized in hits on council buildings, municipal sports centres, schools and pharmacies. While the group was based in Castellon, it has also been connected with robberies in Teruel, Asturias, Huesca, Zaragoza, Guadalajara, Cuenca, Leon, Valencia, Ciudad Real, Albacete, Burgos and Alicante. 

The operation dubbed ‘ZigZag’ resulted in eight arrests. A further two individuals are under investigation. 

The Guardia said when they detained the gang members they were preparing break-ins in Visiedo and Argente in Teruel. 

The operation involved raids on a number of properties in Castellon city, during which officers seized numerous stolen items. 

The Guardia explained the gang sold the stolen merchandise on the black market, via instant messaging and even on buy and sell websites, with members exclusively dedicated to this side of their criminal activities. 

They also said the gang used two established routes to commit the crimes, one going through inland provinces and one going along the Mediterranean. They kept to relatively unused roads and travelled at night.  

To commit the robberies they would hide their vehicle about two kilometres from the target location, travelling the rest of the way on foot and then breaking in by forcing doors or windows. They wore caps, gloves and balaclavas to try and avoid being identified by the authorities. 

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