Thieves drove a four-wheel-drive vehicle into a jewellery shop on Passeig Manuel Girona in Pedralbes at about 4am on Tuesday 27th October, according to 3CatInfo. The shop owner said the premises were destroyed and that almost all valuable items, particularly luxury watches, were stolen.

For businesses and residents in Pedralbes, in Barcelona's Les Corts district, the incident has left a local retailer facing damage to its frontage as well as the loss of its stock. Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, are investigating the break-in, 3CatInfo reported.

Two stolen vehicles used in the raid

According to the report, those involved arrived in two stolen cars. One was a four-wheel-drive vehicle used to force entry through the shopfront, while the other was used to leave the scene.

Interior security-camera footage showed five or six people wearing hoods and balaclavas, 3CatInfo reported. Investigators have sought DNA evidence as part of efforts to identify those involved.

The owner said there had also been an unsuccessful attempt to enter the same premises on the night from Saturday to Sunday. The people involved allegedly tried to raise the security shutter and break the glass but did not get inside.

Previous security measures at the shop

The business had previously been targeted in 2016, according to the owner. After that incident, it installed security glass designed to be difficult to break.

The reported raid on Tuesday involved damage to that protected frontage, as well as the removal of the shop's valuables. No arrests have been reported in connection with this incident.

What witnesses and victims can do

The Mossos advise people reporting a crime to make a report as soon as possible. Their guidance asks victims and witnesses to preserve material that could assist an investigation, particularly when a business has CCTV footage or a record of stolen items.

  • People can report eligible non-violent offences online through the Mossos crime-reporting service, then must sign and complete the report at a police station within 72 hours.
  • Anyone who saw the suspected perpetrators, or can identify them, should go directly to a police station or Citizen's Advice Bureau rather than submitting an online report.
  • Witnesses should retain contact details, note how people left the area and preserve security-camera recordings. The Mossos also advise people not to touch or move objects that may contain evidence.

Police stations are open 24 hours a day, according to the Mossos. The force advises victims to bring identification and as detailed a list as possible of stolen property, including serial numbers, models, invoices and photographs where available.

Sources: 3Cat, Generalitat de Catalunya, Ajuntament de Barcelona.