A 47-year-old man has been arrested in Barcelona for allegedly stealing more than twenty boxes of modular construction toy sets, valued at nearly €2,000. The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's police force, detained the individual, who is accused of seven counts of theft, after he reportedly resold the stolen items online at prices well below market value.
The police investigation began after several identical complaints were filed. Officers found that the suspect had targeted five toy shops in Barcelona and one in the municipality of Rubí. His focus on these specific toys led him to repeatedly target one particular shop in Barcelona's Sant Martí district, where he allegedly committed four separate thefts.
Surveillance Leads to Arrest
His series of thefts ended at this frequently targeted establishment. Due to the repeated incidents at the same location, plainclothes officers from the Catalan police set up a special surveillance operation. On 16 April, police intercepted and arrested the man in the act as he attempted to steal two more boxes of toys.
Following his arrest at the scene, the man appeared before a judge on 18 April. To stop him from continuing his criminal activity at the affected stores, the Mossos d'Esquadra have formally requested a restraining order. This order would prevent the detained man from approaching the targeted shops again.
