Ram Raid Gang Footage Released

A machete-wielding criminal gang that carried out dozens of violent ram raids and armed robberies at businesses in tourist areas in Tenerife, as seen in this footage, has been broken up by police.

The images were obtained from Spain’s Guardia Civil and document incidents on the island of Tenerife, in the Spanish autonomous community of the Canary Islands, as the operation was announced.

The footage shows the gang carrying out raids on businesses and robbing them.

The video shows them smashing through doors with sledgehammers and in one case, ramming a car into one of the venues they targeted.

The Guardia Civil said: “Ten people have been arrested who made up a criminal group specialised in violent early-morning ram raids on businesses and machete attacks on jewellers and homes on the island of Tenerife, particularly in tourist areas in the south.

“In their raids, they used cars stolen from hire companies, taking more than 20 in total, and to hinder identification they wore balaclavas, masks, constantly changed their clothing and fitted false number plates.

“The group committed offences ranging from ram raids on pharmacies, cafes, restaurants and petrol stations to violent attacks on jewellers and homes with machetes, large-bladed knives and baseball bats.

“Material damage from the raids exceeds EUR 60,000 gold taken from jewellers is valued at EUR 38,600, and goods stolen from other commercial premises total EUR 30,000.

“The accused are attributed with at least 35 criminal acts across a dozen municipalities on the island.”

All 10 detainees were aged between 18 and 25, according to the Guardia Civil.

A court subsequently remanded the three principal suspects in custody without bail.

Three simultaneous property searches in Adeje, Arona and San Cristobal de La Laguna recovered stolen vehicles, break-in tools, disguise materials, false plates and some of the stolen gold jewellery.