Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
Video Credit: CEN/@mossos
Spanish police have dismantled a gang accused of distracting tourists in their cars at Barcelona airport before stealing their belongings from inside and fleeing.
Spanish cops have arrested four men they claim are the leaders of a gang of thieves who targeted tourists at service stations on the motorways of Catalonia and at Barcelona airport in the Catalonia region of north-eastern Spain.
Local media report the four men, aged between 40 and 50 and originally from Serbia and Kosovo, are linked with at least nine robberies where they are believed to have robbed up to 10,000 EUR (8,978 GBP) in cash along with foreign currency, jewellery and electronics among other items.
Pictures Credit: CEN/@mossos
The investigation began two months ago after several police reports were filed by victims and the gang worked by targetting tourists, distracting them to leave their cars before another member of the gang would steal their belongings from inside the vehicle.
In the video, a member of the gang can be seen distracting drivers in car parks by pointing at the rear of their car. When the drivers then leave their car to check on the rear, another member of the gang swoops in to steal their belongings from inside the car.
The Head of the Transport Unit of the local police, Joaquim Bayarri, said: “They preferred tourists for two reasons: as they are on their trip, they tend to carry valuable objects and are more relaxed. As they do not know the area, they are more easily distracted.
“When the robbery is under 400 euros, it is difficult to jail them.”
The gang would reportedly rent cars to be able to flee the scene of the crime quickly and Bayarri said the gang focused on foreign victims as it would be more difficult for them to take the case to trial.
He said that these kinds of crime had increased by between five and six percent in the area this year in comparison with the same period last year.
The four suspects have been released with charges while there is an arrest warrant for two further suspects who have not been located by the authorities.
Local media report the four who were arrested have criminal records for robbery.
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