Spanish police announced on Wednesday that they had broken up a crime ring made up of former Eastern European soldiers who specialized in burglaries from luxury villas in Marbella, southern Spain, AFP reported.

The gang carried out 71 thefts, including thefts of jewelery and luxury watches, with most of them taking place in the seaside resort of Marbella, as well as Malaga, Torremolinos and Estepona.

Six people were arrested, including the leader of the gang, an “Albanian who specialized in armed robberies,” Spanish police said in a statement.

The group members were ex-soldiers who used typical military techniques and equipment to communicate with each other and move around, “changing direction, making unexpected stops” while traveling on foot or in a car.

The gang set up homes, often near golf courses, in areas that were difficult to control but had an easy escape route.

Four times gang members resorted to violence and intimidation of homeowners.

They were charged with armed robbery with violence, membership in a criminal organization and money laundering.