A British holidaymaker has been left £16,000 out of pocket after two thieves swiped his phone and made a series of transactions.
The unfortunate incident occurred while the man was vacationing in Benidorm, Spain, where his phone was stolen and subsequently used to spend £16,000.
Two suspects, aged 19 and 20 have been apprehended by the Policia Nacional, according to reports.
It is believed that the British tourist was targeted after the duo observed him closely to gain access to his phone code.
The victim reported the theft to local authorities and stated that unknown individuals had conducted several transfers and payments from his phone, even applying for bank loans under his name.
Police investigations revealed that three men had been receiving transfers from the Brit’s bank account, although one of them was also a theft victim.
In a bid to mislead the police, the thieves transferred money to themselves and another theft victim before moving funds from his account to their own.
The pair were later identified, located and arrested on fraud charges, as reported by Olive Press.
The Policia Nacional advised against entering passwords and codes on phones in the presence of strangers who could potentially be observing, reports the Mirror.
They also recommended using different passwords for banking apps to prevent thieves from accessing accounts in case of phone theft.
A slew of break-ins has sent shockwaves through the British expat community in Spain’s sunny Costa Del Sol
In one particularly brazen heist during December 2024, burglars made off with a staggering haul from an unoccupied Benahavis villa, netting over €500,000 (£412,500) worth of treasures, including high-end timepieces and Cartier gems.
In a swift operation that took just 10 minutes, the robbers seized luxury Audemars Piguet, Rolex, and Romain Jerome watches, alongside a cache of Cartier delights such as a necklace, earrings, and gold rings. The property’s alarm was sounded at 6.50pm; however, it did little to deter the culprits.
As of now, The Guardia Civil’s inquiry has yet to lead to any arrests, Malaga Hoy has disclosed. Surveillance footage captured two masked figures shattering the glass of the kitchen’s sliding door, before reportedly heading to the bedroom to retrieve and subsequently escape with the safe.
The homeowner, promptly notified via his mobile phone about the intrusion, arrived back to find the offenders had vanished. With street crime posing an enduring threat, The Foreign Office cautions travellers: “Be alert to the risk of street crime. Thieves use distraction techniques and often work in teams. Take care of your passports, money and personal belongings, particularly when collecting or checking in luggage at the airport, and while arranging car hire.
“Do not carry all your valuables in one place. Keep a copy of the photo page of your passport somewhere safe. Make sure your accommodation has adequate security. Keep all doors and windows locked. If you’re concerned about the security of your accommodation, speak to your travel operator or the property owner.”
