Five people have been arrested and four more are under investigation in Barcelona and Santa Coloma de Gramenet for allegedly stealing 12,000 kilograms of metal from businesses in Catalonia and Aragon. The group, aged between 17 and 67, would enter premises by climbing or forcing locks, then pretend to be employees while carrying out the thefts, according to the Guardia Civil and Mossos d'Esquadra.
The alleged thefts, which occurred during weekdays and daytime hours, involved copper, brass, and aluminium. The total value of the stolen material and the damage caused to the affected companies is estimated at €120,000, officials said.
Investigation Uncovers Widespread Thefts
The Guardia Civil in Fraga started their investigation last October after receiving reports from two companies in the Baix Cinca region of Aragon. These businesses reported that unknown individuals had entered their premises and taken copper coils. Investigators soon learned of a similar theft around the same time at a company in the Tarragona area.
Further enquiries led officers to identify the suspects and discover they had used the same method to steal metals from businesses in the Barcelona area. The investigation revealed a pattern of seven aggravated robberies and two metal thefts, alongside a charge of belonging to a criminal group.
Arrests Made Across Barcelona Area
The joint investigation team, comprising the Guardia Civil and Mossos d'Esquadra from L'Hospitalet de Llobregat police station, carried out the arrests between the last week of March and the first week of April. The nine individuals involved include seven men, one woman, and one minor, all residents of Barcelona and Santa Coloma de Gramenet.
Following their arrests, the five detained individuals were released with charges after appearing before Barcelona's Court of First Instance number 23, Fraga's Court of First Instance number 1, and Barcelona's juvenile prosecutor's office. The investigation into the four other individuals continues.
