Lleida, Catalonia, a joint police operation in the city centre on 10 June led to two arrests, according to local authorities. Forty officers from the Mossos d'Esquadra, Guàrdia Urbana and Policia Nacional patrolled the Eix Comercial, with one arrest linked to vehicle theft and another to violent robbery.
The operation was the second 'Kanpai' deployment this year. Authorities said it was aimed at improving security for businesses and residents in areas affected by theft and robbery. The Mossos d'Esquadra are monitoring about 20 active repeat offenders in the city, officials said.
Antoni Mestre, sub-head of the Ponent Police Region, said the interventions focus on areas with high levels of theft and violent robbery. He said officers have identified people who use the Eix Comercial as an area of operation, especially for thefts, and that the aim is to reduce that activity. He also said local shopkeepers appreciate the police presence.
Mestre advised shopkeepers not to confront thieves, but to alert patrols or call 112 and give a detailed description of suspects. He said a shoplifting incident can escalate into a violent robbery.
The operation involved uniformed and plainclothes officers. Policia Nacional agents from the immigration group checked documentation, an inspector said. Joan Carles Moreno, sub-inspector and head of citizen security for Lleida's Guàrdia Urbana, said the presence of officers is part of regular neighbourhood patrols in the Eix Comercial.
Moreno said cooperation between police forces helps them work on profiles of repeat offenders. Authorities said they plan to continue joint operations to maintain security and deter criminal activity in Lleida's commercial areas. For more local coverage, see our news page.
