AN Ibiza gang of burglars linked to 22 raids at luxury villas – including Nick Grimshaw’s holiday home – has been arrested by Spanish cops.
Detectives admitted today that knockout gas could have been used by the criminals during their break-ins and released chilling footage showing the masked suspects at work.
SolarpixThe gang has been arrested by Spanish cops[/caption]
SolarpixShocking footage showed the burglars in action inside the lavish Ibiza homes[/caption]
SolarpixCCTV caught the masked criminals outside the homes[/caption]
GettyThe gang is believed to be behind a terrifying break-in at an island home rented by celebrity Gogglebox star Nick Grimshaw[/caption]
A robbery victim could be seen confronting a member of the “knockout gas” gang after discovering them rifling through his valuables in a luxury Ibiza villa.
The brave man, wearing black shorts and a T-shirt and looking as if he has just woken up, fights with the masked intruder before the robber manages to break free and flee the scene.
Separate footage showed the intruders casually walking through the grounds of a villa with stolen items in their hands before driving off in a getaway vehicle.
Binoculars and other tools they used for their break-ins, as well as some of the stolen items recovered including designer watches and phones, were exhibited by cops.
Three people accused of the burglaries – said to be two men and one woman – have been operating in the party town since 2019.
The trio have already appeared before a judge in court, police said.
Two of them have been remanded in custody and continue to be investigated for at least 22 home robberies and thefts.
The revelation opens up the possibility their targets could have included a number of millionaire famous faces.
Celebrity Googlebox star Nick was targeted by criminals who reportedly used sedative gas after renting a villa in Ibiza for his 40th birthday earlier this month.
His 81-year-old mother Eileen and the DJ’s dancer fiancée Meshach Henry, 27, were also in the property.
Sources close to the investigation confirmed today the gang arrested are suspected of being behind the horror raid on Grimshaw’s villa.
One said: “Detectives believe the two men remanded in prison and being investigated over a series of break-ins on the island in which sedative gas could have been used were the same ones who targeted the property the British DJ had rented.”
Cops have not yet named other celebs that could have fallen victims to the gang.
A spokesman for the Civil Guard confirmed: “The Civil Guard has arrested three people belonging to a gang specialising in committing robberies in luxury properties on the island of Ibiza during the summer.
The intruders would enter the lavish homes while everyone was sleeping, always dressed in black and hiding their faces, the Civil Guard said.
The force added: “Many of the victims told police they felt dazed when they woke up, as well as feeling discomfort with dizziness and vomiting, leading detectives to suspect the criminals were using some sort of gas that caused sleepiness.
“They have been linked to at least 22 crimes with the total value of the items stolen exceeding half a million euros.”
Seized items include designer watches, sunglasses, luxury bags, mobile phones and cash.
Officers also seized clothes the suspects used to commit the crimes.
The operation that led to this week’s three arrests was codenamed Operation Fonseca.
A well-placed source said: “The two men that have been held are both Albanian and the woman is Romanian.”
The men are believed to be the ones remanded in prison on the orders of a judge and the woman is thought to be the one released on bail pending ongoing inquiries.
None of the suspects have yet been named.
They have not been formally charged with any crimes but are under official investigation as part of an ongoing judicial inquiry that is likely to take months to complete.
It was not immediately clear today if any of the stolen items recovered belong to Nick Grimshaw or his friends and family.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
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SolarpixThe burglars reportedly used sedative gas during their break-ins[/caption]
SolarpixThe gang stole countless luxury items, including designer handbags and accessories[/caption]
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