Barcelona police have arrested 85 repeat offenders linked to thefts on the city’s bus network over four months, according to Barcelona City Council. The detainees had 628 prior police records between them, and the operation also dismantled five organised criminal groups.
The action formed part of the Kanpai Plan, a policing operation used across Catalonia and applied in Barcelona to target persistent theft on public transport. It involved the Mossos d'Esquadra, Barcelona’s Guàrdia Urbana, and Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB). More Catalonia news
Officers focused on buses with high passenger density. The suspects were said to target vulnerable passengers, including women, older people, people with reduced mobility, parents with prams, and tourists.
Police said the methods included the “crutch” technique, coordinated group thefts, creating crowds on purpose, and approaching victims with false offers of help. Stolen items mainly included mobile phones, wallets, and bank cards, which were then used for scams, fraudulent purchases, or to access personal data.
The investigation involved a Joint Investigation Team made up of the DIC, the Mossos d'Esquadra’s Urban Transport Regional Area, the Guàrdia Urbana, and TMB. In total, 136 people were investigated, leading to the 85 arrests. The work drew on complaints, TMB video surveillance footage, police surveillance, victim identifications, and analysis of scam activity.
Police said the operation led to the breakup of five criminal groups. One group of five people was linked to 18% of the incidents under investigation in a single month, while another group of ten operated from an occupied building in Santa Coloma de Gramenet. A group of eight was active across Barcelona, Terrassa, and Manresa. Judicial authorities also issued 10 restraining orders banning people from the bus network. TMB and the Mossos d'Esquadra are the main public bodies involved in transport security.
Barcelona City Council said TMB’s bus network uses more than 4,500 cameras, covering almost the whole fleet. The system, installed in 2023, allows real-time viewing and immediate download of images, which are kept for up to 30 days. The Bus Security Department remains in constant contact with public security forces through a cooperation agreement aimed at reducing crime on public transport.
