Christmas crime: Resident held hostage on La Torre Golf Resort, Murcia
The harrowing Christmas kidnapping and robbery had led to eight arrests in a dramatic police operation
A peaceful holiday season on the La Torre Golf Resort in Torre Pacheco, Murcia, was shattered last month by a shocking kidnapping and robbery that has since resulted in the arrest of eight individuals.The case unfolded like a scene from a crime thriller, beginning with an argument in a nightclub and culminating in a dramatic police operation nicknamed ‘Farwest’.
The ordeal began in Torrevieja, Alicante, when the victim, a local resident, found himself in an argument with an acquaintance inside a nightclub. The dispute spilled outside, where he was unexpectedly confronted by two additional individuals.
A struggle ensued until the nightclub’s security staff intervened. Unnerved, the victim decided to leave the area, only to be approached by three young men who appeared to offer assistance, suggesting they guide him out of town.
This supposed act of goodwill turned sinister when the men led him to a dead end. Moments later, another car arrived carrying the individual with whom he had argued and three others. One of the new arrivals assaulted the victim, demanding his online banking passwords.
Over the next three hours, the assailants forced him to withdraw over 9,000 euros from various ATMs and gambling halls in the Vega Baja area of Alicante.
The victim’s ordeal did not end there. Following the cash withdrawals, the group decided to extend their crime spree. Under orders from the alleged leader, the three young men who had initially befriended him drove the victim to his home at the La Torre Golf Resort down in Murcia’s Torre Pacheco, where they proceeded to rob him of valuable possessions, including jewellery and cash.
In other news: Extra speed bumps to be installed on La Torre Golf Resort
They also stole his off-road vehicle and forced him to drive it past the urbanisation’s guarded entrance under threat, warning him against alerting security personnel.
Their plan began to unravel when the assailants left the urbanisation. The victim, left stranded after being beaten and threatened, realised that the car key’s contactless function was still in his pocket. He quickly alerted security personnel, who notified the Guardia Civil.
In a twist of fate, the criminals, realising their mistake, attempted to re-enter the urbanisation in search of the victim. However, by then, security staff had secured the area, and the Guardia Civil swiftly intercepted the group.
An investigation by the Civil Guard’s specialists in Judicial Police, dubbed ‘Farwest’, led to the identification and arrest of eight individuals – six men and two women – allegedly involved in the crimes.
The operation resulted in the recovery of stolen items, including jewellery, money, a television, and the victim’s vehicle. Those arrested now face charges of robbery with violence and intimidation, illegal detention, and membership of a criminal organisation.
The detainees have been remanded to the Court of Instruction in San Javier, marking the end of a harrowing event that shook the quiet community. Local security measures, including bodycams recently approved by the resort’s General Meeting, played a crucial role in resolving the case.
For more local news, events and information visit the homepage of La Torre Golf Resort Today
Image: Guardia Civil
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