According to the latest Crime Report (Balance de Criminalidad) published by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, covering the first half of 2026 (January to June), 13,819 criminal offences were recorded in the municipality of Alicante, 4.6% more than in the same period of 2025. Theft is by far the most frequent crime, followed by online fraud. Across the province as a whole, 54,372 offences were recorded, an increase of 2.1%.
We explain what the official data say, how to interpret them and what to do if you are a victim of, or are accused of, any of these crimes.
The official data: Alicante, January to June 2026
These are the main categories in the Report, compared with the first half of 2025:
| Category | Municipality of Alicante 2026 | Change | Province 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theft | 4,015 | +3.0% | 13,426 | +2.9% |
| Online fraud | 1,661 | −3.3% | 8,137 | +0.2% |
| Robbery with violence or intimidation | 472 | +9.8% | 1,192 | +9.4% |
| Burglary of homes, business premises and other facilities | 375 | −22.0% | 3,058 | −15.4% |
| — of which, homes | 312 | −4.0% | 2,530 | −14.5% |
| Drug trafficking | 257 | +58.6% | 707 | +25.1% |
| Serious and less serious bodily harm and affray | 202 | +9.2% | 762 | +6.6% |
| Vehicle theft | 201 | +7.5% | 698 | +3.1% |
| Total crime | 13,819 | +4.6% | 54,372 | +2.1% |
Source: Ministry of the Interior, Crime Report (Balance de Criminalidad), second quarter of 2026 (cumulative January to June), tables for the province of Alicante/Alacant and the municipality of Alicante/Alacant. Data pending consolidation.
How to read these figures
Before drawing conclusions, three things should be borne in mind:
- These are offences recorded by the police (complaints and police actions), not convictions. Many end up dismissed or in an acquittal.
- The data are provisional: the Ministry itself warns that they are pending consolidation.
- An increase may reflect more police activity or more complaints, not just more crime. This is typically the case with drug trafficking, which tends to come to light through police operations.
With those caveats, the trends are clear: theft dominates in a city with a great deal of tourism and retail; cybercrime, above all online fraud, is now the second largest category by volume; and burglaries of homes and business premises have fallen compared with 2025, while robbery with violence is rising.
Overall, cybercrime (all offences committed online or by digital means) totalled 2,041 offences in the municipality, 7.7% fewer than in 2025, and 9,451 in the province, 2.4% fewer. In other words, the volume remains very high, although it has not grown this half-year.
The most common crimes and their penalties
Theft
Theft (hurto) means taking someone else’s property without force or violence: pickpocketing, mobile phones taken from café terraces, shoplifting. If the property taken is worth more than €400, the penalty is imprisonment of six to eighteen months; if it does not exceed that amount, it is a minor crime (delito leve) punishable by a fine of one to three months (Art. 234 of the Criminal Code, Código Penal).
Online fraud
Fake holiday rentals, fraudulent sales, impersonation of banks or companies (phishing) and use of other people’s cards. Fraud (estafa) is punishable by imprisonment of six months to three years (Arts. 248 and 249) and can reach six years in the aggravated cases under Article 250, for example where more than €50,000 is involved or many people are affected. More on fraud and cybercrime.
Robbery and burglary
Robbery with force used on things (robo con fuerza) is punishable by imprisonment of one to three years (Art. 240), and two to five years if committed in an inhabited dwelling or premises open to the public (Art. 241). Robbery with violence or intimidation is punishable by imprisonment of two to five years (Art. 242). See robbery and theft.
Drug trafficking
Imprisonment of three to six years if the substance causes serious harm to health and one to three years in other cases, plus a fine (Art. 368). Personal use in a public place is not a crime but an administrative infringement. See drug trafficking.
Bodily harm and fights
Injuries requiring medical treatment are punishable by imprisonment of three months to three years or a fine (Art. 147.1); assaults without injury or with very minor injuries are minor crimes.
Gender-based and domestic violence is dealt with specifically, and we cover it on our specialist website abogadaviolenciadegenero.com.
If you are the victim of a crime
- If you are in danger, ask the police or the emergency services for help, and then call Celeste on 607 449 491 (24 hours, also on WhatsApp): we accompany you throughout the process.
- Report it as soon as possible to the National Police (Policía Nacional), the Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) or the duty court (juzgado de guardia).
- Keep evidence: screenshots, bank receipts, medical reports, names of witnesses, locations of cameras.
- In cases of online fraud, notify your bank immediately to try to block or recover the transactions.
- Consider joining the proceedings as a private prosecutor (acusación particular) so that you can take part in the case and claim compensation.
If you are accused of a crime
- Do not make a statement without a lawyer, either at the police station or in court.
- Always attend when summoned: failing to do so may lead to a warrant for your arrest.
- Keep anything that might help you: messages, receipts, location data, witnesses.
- Do not accept a plea agreement (conformidad) in a speedy trial without understanding its consequences.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common crime in Alicante?
Theft. In the first half of 2026, 4,015 thefts were recorded in the municipality, almost a third of the total.
Am I entitled to a duty lawyer?
If you are arrested or under investigation, you will always have a lawyer; if you do not appoint one, a duty lawyer (abogado de oficio) will be assigned to you. Free legal aid depends on your income and is applied for through the Bar Association (Colegio de la Abogacía).
If you have been the victim of a crime or a complaint has been filed against you in Alicante, call us on 607 449 491. We will study your case in confidence and explain the steps to take.
