A gang of burglars suspected of ‘gassing’ radio DJ Nick Grimshaw and his 81-year-old mother while they were sleeping in their luxury rented Ibiza villa have been arrested.
Spanish detectives sensationally admitted for the first time today knockout gas could have been used by the criminals as they linked the gang to ‘at least’ 22 raids across the island and released chilling footage of the masked suspects at work.
Three people accused of the burglaries, with the total value of items stolen exceeding half a million euros, are thought to have been operating in Ibiza since 2019.
The revelation opens up the possibility their targets could have included a number of millionaire famous faces.
Nick was targeted by criminals believed to have used sedative gas after renting a villa in Ibiza for his 40th birthday last month. His mother Eileen, dancer fiancé Meshach Henry, 27, and niece, Liv Grimshaw, who appears with him on Celebrity Gogglebox, were also in the property.
Sources close to the investigation confirmed today the gang arrested are suspected of being behind the raid on Nick’s villa.
Nick Grimshaw and his 81-year-old mother Eileen were sedated by a criminal gang in Ibiza (Pictured in London in February 2017)
Spanish police released footage of the suspects being arrested – as they linked them to at least 22 raids across Ibiza
Police also released chilling footage of the hooded burglars carrying out on of their raids in Ibiza
Police raided a property and found several objects related to the burglaries which had been reported missing, including designer watches, sunglasses, designer bags, mobiles and cash
The Spanish Civil Guard retrieved several items including huge amounts of cash and Apple devices
Sources close to the investigation have confirmed that the gang arrested are suspected of being behind the raid on Nick’s Ibiza villa. Pictured: The DJ is pictured in London after the burglary
One said: ‘Detectives believe the two men remanded in prison and being investigated over a series of break-ins on the island in which sedative gas could have been used were the same ones who targeted the property the British DJ had rented.’
The presenter and his loved ones were said to be unhurt, but lost some valuables, and have since returned home.
The revelation emerged as Spanish police released footage showing one of the criminals’ burglary victims confronting a member of the ‘knockout gas’ gang after discovering them rifling through his valuables in a luxury Ibiza villa.
The thief, wearing black shorts and a T-shirt and looking as if he has just woken up, fights with the masked intruder before the robber manages to break free and flee the scene.
Separate footage showed the intruders walked casually through the grounds of a villa with stolen items in their hands before driving off in a getaway vehicle.
Binoculars and other tools they used for their break-ins, as well as some of the stolen items recovered including designer watches and phones, were exhibited by cops.
The operation that led to this week’s three arrests was codenamed Operation Fonseca.
A well-placed source said: ‘The two men that have been held are both Albanian and the woman is Romanian.’
Footage released by the Spanish Civil Guard shows the suspects being arrested by police
The gang are thought to have been operating in Ibiza since 2019, according to Spanish detectives. Pictured: Balaclava-clad thieves target an Ibiza villa
Grimshaw pictured with his niece, Liv, who he stars alongside on Celebrity Gogglebox, and his fiancé, Meshach Henry, during a night out in Ibiza on August 16
Nick Grimshaw jetted out to Ibiza to celebrate his 40th birthday last month before falling victim to a horrific burglary
Grimshaw posted this photo of himself smiling and leaning back on a plastic chair on Instagram on his birthday with a caption saying: ‘Waking up 40’
The gang waited for the gas to take effect then broke in wearing hazmat suits and turned the villa over (Grimshaw pictured enjoying a night out with friends in Ibiza last week)
The men are believed to be the ones remanded in prison on the orders of a judge and the woman is thought to be the one released on bail pending ongoing inquiries.
None of the suspects have yet been named. They have not been formally charged with any crimes but are under official investigation as part of an ongoing judicial inquiry that is likely to take months to complete.
It was not immediately clear today if any of the stolen items recovered belong to Nick and the friends and family.
Spanish police have not yet officially confirmed they believe the gang held were behind the raid or named other celebs they suspect could have been victims, but the criminals’ identical modus operandi points to them being responsible.
Going public with the admission the gang could have used gas to incapacitate villa occupants, a spokesman for the Civil Guard confirmed: ‘The Civil Guard has arrested three people belonging to a gang specialising in committing robberies in luxury properties on the island of Ibiza during the summer.
‘They have been linked to at least 22 crimes with the total value of the items stolen exceeding half a million euros.
‘The intruders entered the properties while the occupants were sleeping, always dressed in black and hiding their faces.
‘If they were caught during the break-in, they fled the scene.
‘Many of the victims told police they felt dazed when they woke up, as well as feeling discomfort with dizziness and vomiting, leading detectives to suspect the criminals were using some sort of gas that caused sleepiness.
‘During the investigation detectives in Ibiza were able to track down the homes of the suspects thanks to the localisation of vehicles they were using to commit the crimes, vehicles which had previously been stolen.
In July, Grimshaw posted a slew of snaps from his trip, showing him partying and posing with friends
Sources previously said the gang would have had no idea who Grimshaw (pictured in Ibiza with his fiancé) was but the villa was on a target list as it was known to be ‘used by high net worth clients’
‘This week a property was searched and several objects related to the robberies which had been reported missing, including designer watches, sunglasses, designer bags, mobiles and cash, were found.
‘Officers also seized clothes the suspects used to perpetrate the crimes.
‘The three people arrested are two men and a woman.
‘They have already appeared before a judge in court and two of them have been remanded in custody and continue to be investigated for at least 22 robberies and thefts inside houses.
‘The total amount of the items stolen has been estimated at around EUROS 548,500.
‘Police information points to the gang being in Ibiza since 2019.’
