Car hired by tourists at a popular holiday destination in Spain were targeted by an alleged gang of thieves.

Their main targets were believed to be tourists in the famous Playa de Palma area of Mallorca carrying in their rented cars their suitcases, with potentially valuable items visible from outside of the vehicles.

The gang would allegedly strike when tourists had just arrived on the island or were about to depart, raising the chances of finding cars filled with goods and cash.

Three members of the group, two men and a woman, who allegedly broke into rental cars have been arrested by the Policia Nacional.

Police officers had to break down the front door of one of the suspects after he barricaded himself in his home. Another was caught after trying to run officers over with a car. 

The suspects have been accused of 20 thefts, with goods stolen from cars, the Olive Press reported.

They are also accused of stealing hire cars and of committing road safety crimes, and it is feared they may have committed more crimes than those they have so far been accused of.

The unnamed suspects, each with criminal records, allegedly committed their thefts on the Balearic island by using rental cars they often kept for longer than what they had paid for. 

Playa de Palma is a six-kilometre-long resort perfect for people looking for a relaxing beach holiday.

The area is also famous for its nightlife, with several clubs, restaurants and themed bars from which tourists can choose from.

This area distances some 10-kilometre away from Palma’s city centre, another popular tourist destination in its own right.

The whole island of Mallorca is particularly popular with Britons. An average of 2.3 million UK nationals visit the Balearic island every year.

The island is also home to tens of thousands of British expats who swapped their old lives in the UK for a more pleasant climate and relaxing lifestyle.