Two men have been arrested after allegedly breaking into 19 vehicles parked near Gran Canaria Airport, bringing an end to a series of thefts that had caused concern among travellers leaving their cars in the area for several days while away.

The National Police said the suspects targeted vehicles parked in an unsupervised parking area close to the airport, stealing valuables before using stolen bank cards to make contactless purchases worth less than €100 to avoid needing a PIN.

The investigation was carried out by specialist officers from the National Police in Telde after a rise in reports of vehicle break-ins. Investigators found the suspects used the same method in each case, smashing a side window to gain quick access to the vehicle.

Among the items stolen were luggage, mobile phones, electronic devices, personal documents, cash, bank cards, smartwatches and other valuables left inside the vehicles.

Police discovered the stolen bank cards were then used in shops to make multiple purchases below the €100 contactless payment limit, allowing transactions to be completed before victims had time to cancel their cards.

During the investigation, officers examined CCTV footage, traced fraudulent card payments and gathered information from banks and retailers. Forensic specialists also collected fingerprint evidence from the damaged vehicles while surveillance operations were carried out in the area.

One of the suspects was caught in the act by patrol officers as he allegedly prepared to target another vehicle in the same area. The second man was identified and arrested the following day.

Police recovered a large number of suspected stolen items during the arrests, including mobile phones, a smartwatch, headphones, audio equipment, backpacks, wallets, sunglasses and personal documents. The recovered property will be returned to its owners once it has been formally identified.

Both men have appeared before the courts as suspects in 19 offences involving theft from vehicles, as well as additional offences relating to the fraudulent use of bank cards.