Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police, have arrested a 36-year-old man suspected of seven violent robberies targeting older people in Barcelona and Malgrat de Mar. The allegations concern residents in Sant Martí, Sant Andreu and Eixample, where police say victims were followed into their own buildings and robbed in entrance halls or lifts.
Police said the suspect was arrested in the act on 21 July after allegedly attempting to steal a gold chain from a woman at the entrance to her home. He has since been brought before a court.
Women aged 61 to 88 were among the alleged victims
According to Mossos d'Esquadra, the alleged offences took place between July last year and this year. Investigators said the victims were mainly women aged between 61 and 88.
- Sant Martí district, Barcelona
- Sant Andreu district, Barcelona
- Eixample district, Barcelona
- Malgrat de Mar, outside Barcelona
Police investigate suspected jewellery sales
Investigators said the suspect allegedly followed victims and entered their residential buildings with them before carrying out sudden thefts in the entrance hall or lift.
Mossos d'Esquadra are also investigating whether jewellery allegedly taken in the robberies was sold to gold-buying businesses in the Barcelona metropolitan area.
Primary sources: govern.cat. Reported by Source Text Link, beteve.cat, Guillem RS, Gerard Mira, naciodigital.cat, Carla Stavraky, tarragonadigital.com, Sofía Díaz, Marc Luque, Andrea Pacha Röper, capgros.elnacional.cat, ACN, Eduard Font Badia, lapremsadelbaix.es, Helena Rius, Betevé.
