Murcia, Spain – The Guardia Civil has recovered over fifty sacred statues stolen from cemeteries across Murcia and Alicante, valued at approximately 100,000 euros.

The operation, named “Coemeterium,” targeted a wave of cemetery thefts in Santomera, Torreagüera, Cabezo de Torres, and the Murcia districts of Zeneta, Cañadas de San Pedro, and Sangonera la Verde, as well as in Orihuela (Alicante).

A 49-year-old man from Murcia was arrested as the alleged perpetrator of 15 counts of robbery with force.

The investigation began in March, after several families reported the theft of religious figures from the cemetery in Torreagüera. Soon after, similar crimes were reported in nearby cemeteries.

The stolen items were primarily religious images known as “de Olot,” a type of sacred art from a village in Girona that has become highly collectible in recent years.

One of the recovered statues is 150 years old. Officers emphasized both the monetary and emotional value of the stolen pieces.

So far, 16 of the statues have been returned to their rightful owners. Another 36 remain at the Guardia Civil post in Torreagüera, waiting to be identified.

The investigation involved contact with collectors and careful analysis of art market activity, leading to the identification of 52 of the stolen figures.

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