Mossos Arrest Three Pickpockets Using Earpieces in Collblanc

A plainclothes patrol from the Mossos d'Esquadra detected four men communicating via earpiece to choose victims in the commercial area of Collblanc. Three ended up being arrested.

The Mossos d'Esquadra have dismantled in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat a method of theft that combines real-time surveillance with a simple earpiece. According to the Catalan police, the officers detected four men of Latin American origin moving around the commercial area near the Collblanc market at 10:40 AM.

The suspects were gathering and separating in front of bakeries and bars, where people were having drinks. The Mossos interpreted this movement as a search for victims to rob while they were distracted.

What gave away the group was the use of an earpiece. The alleged pickpockets remained connected and coordinated to choose whom to attack, according to the police investigation.

The officers, who were watching in plain clothes, discreetly followed the suspects, although it was not easy, as the group dispersed. At one point, one of them seemed to realise they were being followed and alerted the others. To prevent the operation from being thwarted, the Mossos decided to arrest them.

Upon identifying them, the police found that two of the four had outstanding arrest warrants issued by investigative units in Barcelona for alleged thefts. One had 34 previous convictions and the other 7, mostly for thefts.

The third had an International Arrest Warrant issued by Peru for arms trafficking and public health violations. When identifying himself, he presented a German nationality document, but the officers, finding it suspicious, conducted thorough checks and discovered that the name was false and that he was wanted. The Mossos also have six previous theft convictions under that false identity.

The fourth suspect, with over 20 previous convictions for theft, was identified and released, as he had not committed any crime nor had any pending judicial or police orders.

With these arrests, the Mossos have removed three pickpockets from the streets and confirmed that this type of group theft, supported by technology, is already being practiced in the metropolitan area. For the residents of Collblanc, the warning is simple: in the terraces and shops of the area, it is advisable to keep an eye on bags and mobile phones, especially when groups are seen separating and regrouping.