Two young men, aged 17 and 20, have been arrested by Mossos d'Esquadra after snatching a gold chain from a victim on Passeig de Sant Joan in Barcelona. The incident occurred during a plainclothes patrol targeting repeat offenders, part of the ongoing Kanpai plan launched in mid-June to combat street crime in the city.
The adult suspect has five prior arrests for similar violent robberies, according to police sources. Officers from the Regional Urban Crime Group observed the pair acting suspiciously before intervening in flagrante delicto. The summer surge in tourism has intensified police operations across Barcelona, with a focus on thefts involving mobile phones, watches, and jewellery carried out using electric scooters for rapid escape.
64 Repeat Offenders Arrested Since June
Since the start of the Kanpai plan in mid-June, the Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested 64 repeat offenders across the region. Of these, 26 were detained for violent robberies involving intimidation and theft of personal items in public spaces. Police have also seized 26 electric scooters used during escapes.
Twelve individuals were taken into custody due to outstanding warrants, while eight were caught pickpocketing in crowded areas. The operation is part of a broader strategy to disrupt crime patterns linked to mobile offenders exploiting high-footfall zones, particularly during peak tourist months.
"The use of scooters allows suspects to strike quickly and vanish into traffic," said a regional police source familiar with the Kanpai operations.
Coordinated Crackdown Across Catalonia
The Passeig de Sant Joan arrest follows a wider seven-hour joint operation across L'Hospitalet, Esplugues, Cornellà, and southern Barcelona, where 30 repeat offenders were detained. Those arrested during that sweep held a combined 226 criminal records. Officers also recovered four stolen motorcycles and three scooters, while inspecting 628 vehicles and raiding 11 premises.
Residents and visitors are urged to report any suspicious activity or crimes via the official Mossos d'Esquadra crime reporting portal. Preventive measures include maintaining awareness in crowded areas and securing valuables out of sight.
Primary sources: mossos.gencat.cat, Pere Boqué, ${rpb.dspace.name}. Reported by 3cat.cat, Natàlia Vila, barna.news, Javier Sánchez, Cesc Maideu, Leo Salguero, Guillem RS, NTM, Metrópoli, Redacción, Vilapress, 3CatInfo Barcelona.
