Recorded offences on Barcelona's metro and trains fell by 40% in the first six months of 2026 compared with 2025, according to figures from Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police, reported by El Periódico.

For commuters and visitors using crowded stations and carriages, the main risk remains the theft of phones and wallets. Mossos say 92% of offences on public rail transport are theft or robbery without violence.

Across Catalonia's rail network, which includes Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat, Renfe and the metro, recorded offences fell by 20% over the same period, according to the police data.

Falls vary across metropolitan police regions

The decline was not uniform in the three metropolitan police regions with the largest numbers of rail passengers:

  • Barcelona: 40% fewer recorded offences.
  • Northern Region: 11% fewer recorded offences.
  • Southern Region: 19% fewer recorded offences.

In the Southern Region, police say offenders commonly target tourists travelling into Barcelona from the airport.

Plain-clothes patrols and investigations of organised groups

Mossos deploy officers in uniform and plain clothes at stations and on trains to identify people suspected of exploiting crowded conditions. Their work is focused particularly on the theft of mobile phones and wallets.

Police also link the overall reduction, particularly on Rodalies commuter rail services, to investigations targeting highly active organised groups. Officers use information from reported thefts and images from CCTV cameras to establish whether suspects are operating together and to identify them.

Police have identified several methods used on trains. Some suspects distract passengers by posing as tourists and asking for directions while displaying a map, allowing an accomplice to take an item concealed by the map. Others open bags or rucksacks, while groups may pass stolen property between members if they believe they have been noticed.

Passengers can reduce the opportunity for this type of theft by keeping bags closed and in sight in crowded carriages, and by shielding the keypad when entering a bank card PIN at ticket machines. Mossos have also dismantled a group that allegedly watched passengers enter their PINs, stole their wallets and withdrew money before the cards were reported stolen.

Under the recently approved multi-offender law, prosecutors can seek prison sentences for repeated thefts and ask courts to impose exclusion orders covering particular stations or rail lines.

Reported by Source Text Link, Leo Salguero, Germán González, barna.news, Pere Roca Soler, catalannews.com, Quico Sallés Barcelona, betevé.