The National Police have released details about the arrest of a 26-year-old man caught red-handed with a stash of stolen iPhones during the recent Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival. He was found in possession of 20 high-end mobile phones and two car control units, all reportedly stolen from various parts of the island.
The drama unfolded in early March when eagle-eyed officers spotted a suspicious vehicle. The driver, whose past brushes with the law were well-documented, tried to stash items in the glove compartment as he noticed them approaching him.
At that precise moment, two women approached the police officers, reporting that their iPhones, a blue iPhone 13 Pro Max and an iPhone 15 Pro Max, had been stolen during the carnival festivities. The phones’ tracking features led the officers directly to the suspect's car.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered a treasure trove of 20 iPhones, cleverly hidden in different spots, with some wrapped in aluminium foil to avoid detection. They also found two vehicle control units, one from a Volkswagen and another from a Mercedes.
The police quickly identified the owners of eight of the stolen phones, and these victims recounted how their devices had vanished on March 2nd at the carnival, and from the Verónicas strip in Playa de las Américas.
Unravelling the suspect’s modus operandi, the police learned he had been using a phishing scam to try and unlock the stolen phones. He sent messages via WhatsApp to the emergency contacts listed on the devices, pretending to have found them and requesting personal details. He followed up with a fake Apple interface link, tricking victims into entering their email and password, which he then used for fraudulent transactions.
With a history of similar crimes, including fraud and handling stolen goods, the suspect is now in custody as investigations continue. Authorities are working to identify more victims and figure out where the rest of the seized items came from.
The National Police are urging the public to report any mobile thefts promptly and to be wary of suspicious links, helping to stop digital scams and protect personal information.
