El 3 de Vuit reported on Wednesday that Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, arrested five people over three alleged robberies at the same petrol station in Vilafranca del Penedès. The arrests, made on 8 and 9 September, concern raids in which a worker was allegedly threatened with a knife.

For petrol station staff, nearby businesses and residents, the arrests mean police say they have identified suspects after three incidents at one local premises within two weeks. Four men aged between 36 and 51, and a 27-year-old woman, are suspected of robbery involving violence or intimidation.

Three alleged raids between 22 August and 5 September

Police linked the incidents through similarities in the alleged method and by reviewing CCTV footage, according to the report. In each case, the suspects allegedly arrived by vehicle, entered the premises, threatened the worker with a knife, took cash and shop products, then left.

  • The first alleged robbery took place on Saturday 22 August and involved two men.
  • A second incident followed five days later and allegedly involved three people, including the woman later arrested.
  • The third alleged robbery took place on Saturday 5 September and involved two men.

Investigators said one of the men arrested was allegedly involved in all three incidents. They also alleged that the suspects in the 5 September robbery used a stolen vehicle to travel to and leave the petrol station; those linked to that incident are also accused of taking the vehicle.

Suspects appeared before the duty court

All five suspects were brought before the duty court in Vilafranca del Penedès. The report said all had previous police records for similar alleged offences, which are records of earlier police involvement and do not by themselves establish guilt.

Police recorded 13 previous entries for the woman, while the 46-year-old man alleged to have taken part in all three robberies had been arrested by Mossos d'Esquadra on 24 previous occasions, the report said.

People who witness a crime or need to make a report can use the Mossos d'Esquadra crime-report service.

Primary sources: Govern de la Generalitat de Catalunya, mossos.gencat.cat. Reported by el3devuit.cat, El 3 de Vuit.