Police have arrested a 39-year-old man in Tarragona on suspicion of committing four thefts and one violent robbery across businesses in Tarragona and Cambrils. The suspect, who has a dozen prior police records, was detained on Thursday at around 19:45 and appeared before the on-duty investigating court in Tarragona on Saturday.

The regional police, Mossos d'Esquadra, linked the man to three thefts in Tarragona and one in Cambrils, where he targeted tip jars, cash and personal belongings. In most cases, security camera footage from the affected establishments captured the incidents.

Pattern of thefts

The first incident occurred on 7 July when the suspect entered a premises on Carrer Mallorca in Tarragona and stole cash, a handbag, a wallet and other personal items belonging to customers or staff.

On 29 July, he struck again at a business on Carrer Mossèn Salvador Ritort i Faus, taking advantage of staff distraction to steal money from a tip jar.

Two weeks later, on 4 August, the suspect committed a violent act while fleeing a shop on Carrer Falset after grabbing a charity collection container filled with coins and notes. The owner attempted to stop him, but the suspect assaulted the victim and fled with the man’s mobile phone.

On 8 August, at another establishment on Carrer Lleida, he stole cash as well as a waist pouch containing credit cards, personal documents and house keys.

Cambrils tip jar theft

The final known incident took place on 11 August at Kalavia hamburger restaurant on Passeig de Sant Joan Baptista de la Salle in Cambrils. The man seized the tip jar containing approximately €400 while a member of staff was momentarily distracted. This theft prompted an intensified investigation by the Urban Crime Unit of the Tarragona police station.

“Detingut un home relacionat amb 4 furts en establiments de Tarragona i Cambrils. S'enduia pots de propines, diners i objectes personals aprofitant descuits.”

Investigators from the Mossos d’Esquadra’s Urban Crime Group and the Investigation Unit coordinated the operation that led to his arrest. The latter unit formally attributed the violent robbery on 4 August to the suspect based on gathered evidence.

Reported by revistacambrils.cat, infocamp.cat, Orsolya Gazdagi, Roger Franco, russpain.com, europapress.es, Redacción, Adrià Torres, Revista Cambrils.