Catalan police arrested a 40-year-old man on 21 April in Badalona. He faces charges for five armed robberies at the same petrol station in the Lloreda neighbourhood. These incidents occurred between 30 March and 14 April.
The repeated robberies generated a notable sense of insecurity. This affected both the establishment's staff and the local residents, according to a police statement. The suspect allegedly entered the petrol station and intimidated workers to steal cash from the till.
Investigation Links Robberies
The series of robberies started on 30 March. Further incidents followed on 1, 5, 10, and 14 April. In four of these five robberies, the arrested man acted with an accomplice. Police had already arrested this second man on 10 April for the same crimes.
Investigators determined the perpetrators used a consistent method. One person entered the petrol station and directly intimidated the employee. Meanwhile, a second person remained outside, watching, to help with the subsequent escape. This coordinated approach allowed them to carry out the thefts efficiently.
Barcelona Connection Emerges
Police made an arrest in Barcelona on 10 April for a robbery at an establishment in the Eixample district. This district is a central area of Barcelona, home to approximately 260,000 residents. This arrest helped police link one of the suspects to the man who acted as a lookout in the first four Badalona robberies. As a result, officers arrested the lookout for these incidents as well.
Despite this initial arrest, the investigation continued. A new robbery occurred at the same Badalona petrol station on 14 April. The man who entered the premises and intimidated the worker committed this crime. This incident showed a clear pattern of repeat offending. Finally, on 21 April, investigators arrested the second alleged perpetrator, who had entered the establishment on all occasions.
The arrested man appeared before the duty court in Badalona on 23 April. The judicial process will now determine the next steps in this case.
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Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.
