Catalan police arrest 94 people in two months for stealing high-end watches 

Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested 94 people for stealing high-end watches in Barcelona in the last two months, spokesperson Montserrat Escudé told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) in an interview. 

Most arrests were made by the specialist Titani unit, first set up last year to tackle watch theft in the Catalan capital over the summer and reactivated again this year. 

Together with Spain's National Police, Mossos broke up a criminal gang that stole two watches worth a combined €192,000 in Barcelona. Three men were sentenced to prison at a court in Madrid on July 6. 

Summer watch theft task force 

In spring 2022, the Mossos d'Esquadra created the Titani unit to respond to the high number of thefts of high-end watches in the city of Barcelona. 

They were active over the summer, when this type of crime most commonly occurs, and were called into operation again in May, with the arrival of warmer weather, short-sleeved clothing that exposes the wrists and a higher influx of tourists. 

Between May 11 and July 11, the unit made 59 arrests for watch theft in the Catalan capital, out of the total of 94.  

Tourists are the main targets for these criminals, and thefts can often involve violence or assault, Escudé explained. The problem is not unique to Barcelona, she added, with similar gangs operating in many European cities.  

High-end watches 

On May 9, officers received a report that two people had targeted a tourist in Barcelona, one grabbing a watch valued at €52,000 before fleeing the scene with a waiting accomplice on motorbike.  

Another robbery with the same modus operandi was reported on May 18. This time the assailant put the victim in a chokehold before stealing a watch worth €140,000 and again fleeing with an accomplice. 

The joint investigation team discovered that the criminals moved between Barcelona and Madrid on motorbikes. 

The Mossos identified them in Barcelona and coordinated with Spain's National Police who were able to arrest them in Madrid, where officers discovered money, jewelry and phones at the hotel the three men being investigated were staying. 

A judge handed down a prison sentence to the three perpetrators on July 6.