The arrested individuals are the alleged perpetrators of seven strong-arm robberies committed in restaurants, where they stole barrels of used oil intended for recycling. The operation originated at the beginning of the year in the Local Judicial Police Brigade of the Xirivella-Aldaia-Alaquàs Police Station, after receiving several reports with the same modus operandi in different locations in the provinces of Valencia and Castellón.
The investigation determined that those involved primarily acted at night. They accessed waste rooms or exterior areas of the premises by forcing padlocks, metal closures, or doors. Once inside, they used a van to load the barrels and quickly flee, sometimes even swapping them for empty containers to avoid immediate suspicion.
“"This type of robbery responds to the demand for used oil for its fraudulent transformation into biodiesel or aviation fuel, outside of sanitary and regulatory controls."
The three detainees in Xirivella, who had no prior police records, were released after giving their statements. However, they are still required to appear before the judicial authority when requested for the progress of the case.
