The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, arrested a 42-year-old man in Barcelona on 22 September after allegedly catching him stealing an older man's wallet on Carrer d'Espronceda. Police attribute six robberies to the suspect, five in Barcelona and one in Tarragona, with victims reported to be between 72 and 92 years old.
Officers from Sant Andreu's Grup de Delinqüència Urbana, an urban crime unit, detained the man shortly after the alleged theft. The victim had been followed to the entrance of his home, according to police information reported by Crónica Global.
The case affects older residents who may be returning home after withdrawing cash or shopping, as police said the suspect selected people in those circumstances before following them to residential entrances or shopping-centre car parks.
Police link alleged offences across Barcelona and Tarragona
The Mossos' Eixample investigation unit carried out checks that identified the detainee as the alleged perpetrator of four other offences in the Barcelona area. Police are also investigating an alleged robbery in Tarragona.
Reports said the man had previously been arrested 11 times, six times by the Mossos and five times by the Policía Nacional, Spain's national police force. The allegations in the current investigation have not been tested in court.
Distraction technique used near homes and car parks
Police said the suspect allegedly used a distraction known as the "seeding method". He would drop coins or keys, then offer to pick them up and place them in a victim's bag or pocket.
- Victims were allegedly followed after bank withdrawals or shopping trips.
- The reported incidents occurred at residential doorways or shopping-centre car parks.
- Police said the distraction was used to take wallets or, in some cases, items from vehicles.
Older people who believe they may have been affected by a similar theft can report it to the Mossos d'Esquadra, whose investigation remains open to the possibility of further offences being linked to the suspect.
Primary sources: govern.cat, govern.cat. Reported by Source Text Link, Andrea Pacha Röper, Marc Luque, Maria Pentinat, barna.news, tarragonadigital.com, Carla Stavraky, Germán González, Carlos Manzano, Ángela Vázquez, Xavi Fernández de Castro, CatalunyaPress.cat, betevé.
