The Guardia Civil in Alicante has arrested a six strong gang for stealing 12 kilometres of copper wire.The theft caused chaos on the A-7 and the AP-7 in Crevillente,Almoradi,Rojales,San Miguel de salinas.San Javier and Cartagena.
The raids to acquire the copper wire took place at night and put the motorway lights out of action causing extreme danger to motorists.The wire had a value of 150,000 euros.
The first wave of thefts took place last August.They were well organised and while one did the stealing the others watched out for the police.The wire would be sold in another province to avoid detection.The gang was also charged with thefts worth 20,000 euros from El Hondo natural park.They are also suspected of stealing a petrol card from a lorry and filling cannisters with 3000 litres of fuel which was then sold to the black market.
Two of the men involved were arrested in 2007 after a wave of copper wire thefts .Some of the El Hondo goods were discovered when the home of the gang leader was raided.
