The Civil Guard has arrested an individual as the alleged perpetrator of a series of property crimes, using the well-known 'broken ATM' method, a criminal technique particularly aimed at elderly people when they make cash withdrawals at ATMs.
The investigation began following an increase in reports and operational communications related to incidents of a similar nature occurring in different towns within the Valencian Community and other provinces in eastern Spain. The joint analysis of the reports allowed for the identification of a common pattern in both victim selection and the modus operandi.
The method, known as Scalping, broken ATM, or ATM distraction, involves creating a situation of confusion for the victim while they are operating an ATM. The alleged perpetrator approaches the person, usually elderly, pretending that the terminal has a malfunction or technical issue. Exploiting the resulting distraction, they manipulate the ATM, partially concealing the keypad or cash dispenser with flyers, newspapers, or documents, managing to make cash withdrawals without the victim initially noticing the theft.
Investigations confirmed that the incidents primarily occurred on dates coinciding with pension payments, social benefits, or salaries, times when the number of elderly people visiting banks significantly increases.
The arrest took place on June 10th during a surveillance operation near a bank in the aforementioned locality. Investigators observed an individual, whose characteristics matched those of the sought perpetrator, interacting with an elderly person who was carrying out an operation at an ATM, replicating the investigated pattern of behavior.
Given the immediacy of the events, officers intervened, leading to the arrest of the suspect when he had allegedly just made an unauthorized cash withdrawal of 900 euros. During the operation, items related to the investigated incident were recovered, and the victim's protection was ensured.
Following the arrest, the Civil Guard promoted extensive information exchange with various territorial units and other Law Enforcement Bodies. As a result of these efforts, a total of thirteen criminal offenses have been clarified to date: twelve counts of theft and one count of robbery with violence and intimidation, committed between April 2025 and May 2026 in various towns in the provinces of Valencia and Alicante.
The affected towns include, among others, El Puig, Puzol, Tavernes de la Valldigna, San Juan de Alicante, Sax, Cullera, Benifaió, and Moncada. A notable commonality has been determined in all clarified incidents: elderly victims, ATM operations, the use of a cap and mask to hinder identification, and repeated thefts of amounts close to 900 euros.
The Civil Guard maintains the operation open, continuing investigations to determine the possible existence of new victims and clarify other similar incidents. The detainee is a 20-year-old man of Romanian nationality, who had previously been arrested by the National Police for the same offenses.
The investigation was carried out by agents from the Main Post of Moncada, and the proceedings were handed over to the Civil and Instruction Section of the Moncada Court.
