The Second Section of the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has delivered its verdict, convicting four of the five individuals involved in a wave of burglaries that affected the northern area of the island. A fifth defendant was acquitted due to a lack of conclusive evidence. The sentences imposed vary, with two of the convicted receiving six years and three months in prison, a third five years, and the fourth three years and six months, the latter with a mitigating factor for drug addiction. In addition to the prison sentences, the convicted must compensate the victims for unrecovered stolen goods and for damages caused to forced entry points.

The investigation, which began in late 2023, revealed a pattern of burglaries with similar characteristics across several municipalities, leading to collaboration between the National Police and the Civil Guard. The court determined that the convicted individuals acted in concert with the aim of illicit enrichment, stealing jewelry, watches, electronic devices, and money. They used a technique known as “Pico Loro” to force locks and security systems.

After a trial that included testimonies from victims, witnesses, investigators, and experts, all reported assaults were deemed proven. One of the convicted was also found guilty in a separate part of this investigation for illegal possession of weapons and crimes against public health, after cocaine was found in his home during a police search, although the defendant attempted to dispose of it.

The sentence details the chronology of the robberies, including an assault on November 18, 2023, in Icod de los Vinos, where 700 euros and jewelry were stolen. On December 23 of the same year, other connected assaults were recorded: a robbery in La Orotava, where a collection of antique coins disappeared; another robbery also in Icod, where 300 euros were taken; and a new attempted assault on a home in Los Realejos, which was thwarted. The court highlighted the “special relevance” of this day due to the “same pattern of action within a few hours” and the coincidence in physical descriptions and vehicles.

The series of assaults continued in the following months, with thwarted entry attempts and successful robberies. These included an attempt in February 2024 in Tajao, interrupted by a neighbor, and another in Los Realejos that was not completed when the owner's presence was noticed. In late February, the gang robbed a home in San Marcos, taking chains, rings, and other jewelry. A new attempted robbery in Icod was also proven, where the assailants were forced to flee after being discovered by several neighbors.

In March 2024, the gang assaulted a business in southern Tenerife, stealing 450 euros, and a home in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where they took 7,000 and 8,000 euros from two piggy banks, in addition to jewelry. They also stole 500 euros and gold jewelry from a home in Garachico, as well as assaulting a house and a vehicle.

The court valued the consistency of testimonies from victims and neighbors, police and judicial identifications, physical descriptions, the use of vehicles associated with the accused, and tools found during searches. The defenses' objections regarding the validity of some evidence were rejected, except for a specific correction concerning the criminal records of one of the accused at the time of the events.