A gang of luxury watch thieves who assaulted tourists and escaped on electric scooters falls
New blow to thieves specialized in the violent robbery of luxury watches. The Mossos d'Esquadra have dismantled a criminal group in Barcelona dedicated to assaulting tourists to take these valuable objects. There are six men and one woman arrested, between the ages of 24 and 39, who accumulate 72 records for similar robberies, both in Spain and in other European countries.. The agents point out that the suspects acted as an organized group and while the leader selected the victim, mainly a tourist, others assaulted him and then escaped on an electric scooter.
For the second consecutive year, the Mossos have launched the Titani Group to combat violent robberies of luxury items, such as watches, taking into account that it is a type of crime that affects the main European tourist capitals. There are 15 agents dedicated exclusively to locating these groups, seeing how they act and coordinating devices throughout Barcelona. Thus, preventive patrols can be carried out in tourist areas and criminal groups that are dedicated to dismantling. In the first 4 months of the year, the Mossos have arrested 30 people for committing violent robberies, most of which occur in the center of the city.
By knowing the areas of operation of the suspects, the agents have been able to better plan the patrols, in plain clothes and in uniform, to prevent and arrest a thief after committing the robbery. So far, researchers have found that most of the suspects who commit watch thefts are opportunistic criminals who take advantage of the situation to attack. However, people who act in a more organized way as a criminal structure are also being investigated.
This is the case of the gang that was dismantled last week with the arrest of 7 people who were dedicated exclusively to violent robberies of luxury watches in a coordinated manner.. In addition, they are also accused of documentary falsification. According to Mossos, one of the members of the group was in charge of selecting the victims, mainly tourists, in the central areas of Barcelona and given the possibility that he was wearing a high-value watch, he communicated with the rest of the gang, dispersed for the area, to pounce on the victim until they violently steal the object. To assault and to flee they used electric scooters.
The investigation began in September and the suspects were arrested in May.. In the search of their homes, watches, cameras and other objects stolen from tourists, falsified documentation and cash were recovered.. The Mossos accuse the gang of stealing a watch with a value of 110,000 euros. The Investigating Court 13 of Barcelona ordered the entry into prison of the leader of the group, while the rest were released with charges. Among the members of the group are a receiver, who was the person who placed the stolen objects in the illicit market, and another person who gave logistical support to the principal investigated.
In May, the Titani Group carried out three operations against robberies in Barcelona with 16 detainees who accumulate 204 records. In addition, the Mossos have the Tremall plan in operation to prevent robberies and thefts by multiple repeat offenders who operate on the street with the arrival of tourists and visitors to the city.