Police officers from the Mossos d'Esquadra detained a 30-year-old man in Sitges on the morning of Friday 28 August after he snatched a Rolex watch valued at €9,000 from a Belgian tourist. The incident occurred in broad daylight as the victim, a man aged between 50 and 60, was walking through the town centre.
The suspect, who has 24 prior criminal records mostly for theft with violence, approached the victim and yanked the watch from his wrist before attempting to flee on foot. Officers from the Urban Crime Unit, commonly known as Fura, were on patrol as part of the Pla Espigó, a joint security operation between the Mossos d'Esquadra and Sitges Local Police, and witnessed the robbery in real time.
This intervention exemplifies the efficacy of the preventive measures deployed this summer in Sitges,
said the Mossos, highlighting the success of the operation.
Immediate Recovery and Return of Stolen Watch
The officers gave chase and apprehended the suspect just metres from the scene. The Rolex was recovered during the operation and returned to its rightful owner, who sustained minor hand injuries during the struggle.
The man was taken into custody on suspicion of robbery with violence and appeared before the duty judge at the Vilanova i la Geltrú court.
Pla Espigó Reduces Crime in Tourist Hotspot
The arrest occurred under the framework of Pla Espigó 2026, a preventive security initiative launched by the Ajuntament de Sitges and the Mossos d'Esquadra to enhance public safety during peak tourist months. The plan focuses on reinforcing patrols in high-traffic areas, preventing thefts, and cracking down on unauthorised street vending and traffic violations.
According to official figures, crimes in Sitges fell by 18% during the summer of 2025 under the same plan. Between June and September that year, break-ins dropped by 28%, violent robberies by 24%, and thefts from homes and vehicles by over 30%. In 2026, the broader Pla Espigó operation contributed to a 29.5% reduction in overall crimes in the Garraf region.
Since the start of summer 2026, 25 people have been arrested in Sitges for property crimes, seven of them for robbery with violence or intimidation.
Primary sources: dsp.interior.gencat.cat, mossos.gencat.cat, Dep. Interior Generalitat Catalunya. Reported by elcaso.elnacional.cat, lavanguardia.com, Miriam Saint-Germain, sitges.cat, ACN, europapress.es, cronicaglobal.elespanol.com, laciutat.cat, 20minutos, elcatalan.es, El Caso.
