# Two Arrested for Copper Cable Theft in Cartagena Industrial Zone Spanish authorities recover 200 kilograms of stolen copper cable from a local scrapyard. - **Source:** [El Confidencial – España](https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [world](https://brifing.si/c/world) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/8924f4ab-b591-48ea-91c5-f21d7f36aa1d ## Arrest in Cartagena The Spanish Guardia Civil arrested two residents of Cartagena for stealing 200 kilograms of copper cable from an industrial facility in Valle de Escombreras. The suspects allegedly cut through the perimeter fencing to access the site. This material is typically used for grounding connections in strategic industrial infrastructure projects. ## Evidence and Recovery Investigators from the ROCA team, which specializes in rural and industrial theft, tracked the stolen goods to a local scrapyard. Officers matched tape found on the copper rolls at the scrapyard with fragments collected at the crime scene. The recovered material has since been returned to the affected company. ## Suspects' Modus Operandi The suspects were initially identified by a security patrol near the industrial zone during the early morning hours. They were wearing specialized clothing and gloves to avoid detection. Furthermore, they had removed the rear seats from their vehicle to maximize cargo space for transporting the heavy copper cable rolls. ## Investigation Timeline The investigation officially began in September after the theft was reported. Authorities conducted thorough inspections of various metal recycling centers across the Campo de Cartagena region. This systematic search eventually led them to the specific facility where the stolen copper was being held before it could be processed further. ## Broader Crime Patterns This incident follows a series of similar copper thefts across Spain, including cases in Palos de la Frontera and Trigueros. In those instances, perpetrators targeted public lighting systems and industrial warehouses. Such crimes often result in significant operational disruptions and high repair costs for the affected public and private entities. ## Recent Enforcement Actions The ROCA team recently concluded Operation Ecopinwi, which involved investigating ten individuals for the theft of 800 kilograms of copper from a construction site in Alicante. That stolen material was eventually recovered at a waste management center in Caravaca de la Cruz, highlighting the ongoing challenges in tracking illicit metal. ## Economic Impact Copper theft remains a persistent issue due to the high market value of the metal. Beyond the immediate loss of materials, these thefts often cause extensive collateral damage to electrical infrastructure. For example, a separate incident in Magaz resulted in over 100,000 euros in damages and total power loss for a factory. ## Ongoing Security Challenges The recurrence of these thefts underscores the vulnerability of industrial zones to organized metal theft. Law enforcement agencies continue to monitor recycling centers as a primary point of interception. Preventing such crimes requires both physical security upgrades at industrial sites and rigorous oversight of the secondary metal trade market throughout Spain. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2026-11-12/detenidos-cartagena-robo-cable-cobre-1tna-1tps_4463401/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._