Phones recovered after traffic stop in Badalona
Agents from the Mossos d'Esquadra Badalona station detained two women and a man, aged 21, 27 and 30, on 6 September after stopping a vehicle driving without headlights along Doctor Bassols street in Badalona. According to a police statement, the driver ignored clear signals to stop and showed visible signs of nervousness, attempting to hide their face, which raised suspicion of illegal activity. During a search of the car, officers found a bag under the front passenger seat containing 32 mobile phones, all wrapped in aluminium foil, along with two sets of earphones. The three occupants were arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen goods.
Devices linked to Viladecans festival thefts
The stolen phones were taken during the night of 4 to 5 September at events held as part of the Festa Major in Viladecans, in the Baix Llobregat region. All 32 victims reported the thefts to authorities and have since been identified by the Badalona police team. As of 8 September, 20 of the phones had been returned to their owners. The three suspects were formally presented to judicial authorities at Badalona’s courts on that date.
The recovery highlights ongoing efforts by regional police to disrupt networks handling stolen electronics in the Barcelona metropolitan area.
The Mossos d'Esquadra have previously uncovered similar operations in Badalona, including cases where stolen phones were hidden in milk cartons or tracked via geolocation tools. This incident underscores the risks of theft during large public gatherings and the importance of reporting lost devices promptly.
Primary sources: badalona.cat, govern.cat. Reported by elperiodico.cat, Regió 7, Miriam Saint-Germain, elcaso.elnacional.cat, Metrópoli, elperiodico.com, eltotbadalona.cat, ACN, Guillem RS, El Periódico (CA).
