A specialized police group has successfully dismantled a network of itinerant gangs dedicated to high-end watch robberies. During the first four months of the year, 33 people were arrested in Spain and one in France, with their main base in Barcelona. These gangs operated in cities such as Alicante, Málaga, Madrid, Ibiza, and Mallorca.
Investigations have led to the identification of 43 additional individuals who are pending arrest. During this period, 41 violent robberies, one homicide, three assault offenses, one theft, and membership in a criminal group have been clarified. The stolen watches were valued between 15,000 and 100,000 euros.
“"This is an unprecedented initiative to coordinate a permanent operation investigating the criminal activity of organized groups carrying out massive violent robberies of high-end watches across different parts of Spain."
One of the clarified robberies occurred in June of last year in Alicante, next to the Meliá Hotel. The suspect, a 27-year-old man, was arrested after being identified by the Alicante Judicial Police. This individual approached a Scottish tourist to steal a Rolex Daytona watch valued at 40,000 euros.
Most of these criminal networks are based in Barcelona, from where they travel in small groups to tourist areas with a high concentration of luxury establishments and foreign visitors. The organizations are perfectly structured, providing their members with false documentation, accommodation, and vehicles to facilitate the robberies.
The criminals use methods such as caps, masks, or sunglasses to avoid identification, and even duplicate license plates. After committing the acts, they quickly return to Barcelona to dispose of the stolen items. The complexity of these operations has led to the creation of a police group dedicated to coordinating the fight against this type of crime at national and international levels, with the collaboration of authorities from other countries such as Italy.
