National
Spain's most wanted bank robber has been arrested in Portugal
By m.p
Jul 23, 2007 - 10:19 PM

Spain’s most wanted bank robber has been arrested in Portugal as he was on his way to carry out another bank robbery in Figueira de Foz, on the coast between Coimbra and Oporto.

Known as ‘El Solitario’ – ‘The Loner,’ he’s now been identified as 51 year old Jaime Jiménez Arce. He’s believed to be responsible for 36 armed bank robberies and the murder of two Civil Guard and a local policeman.

He’s described by the Civil Guard as ‘extremely dangerous.’

He was wearing a false beard and a bullet-proof vest when he was taken into custody and was carrying a briefcase containing three firearms.

The Interior Minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, said in a press conference in Lisbon that Spain will be applying for extradition. He said Spanish National Police and the Civil Guard have been searching for El Solitario since the beginning of June, and that he was traced to Figueira de Foz last week. The Minister said he was planning an assault on the Caja Agrícola Bank.

Police have searched El Solitario’s home on the Monte Alto urbanisation in Las Rozas, Madrid province, with another search possibly planned of premises he’s believed to own in Pinto, also in Madrid.

Europa Press reports a neighbour speaking of death threats made by El Solitario.

His last known robbery in Spain was in Toro, Zamora province, on 18th May. He got away with a haul of 6,000 € and shot a bank employee in the leg.