Italian thieves arrested in Barcelona for €50,000 watch robbery in Palma

Spanish National Police detained two Italian men at Barcelona airport after they violently stole a €50,000 luxury watch from a tourist in Palma’s Molinar district. The robbery occurred around 15:00 on Sunday as the victim left a restaurant; a young assailant grabbed the watch from his wrist, then fled on a motorcycle driven by a second accomplice. Investigators traced the suspects through a false‑identity rental, recovered the bike, and coordinated with Italy’s Polizia di Stato to capture the pair in Barcelona. The police continue to investigate the organized crime network that frequently targets high‑value watches in the Balearic Islands, noting a pattern of short‑term operations and rapid departure from the region.

The case highlights the modus operandi of specialized Italian or Maghrebi groups that use false documents, rented vehicles, and swift getaways to conduct high‑end thefts, prompting ongoing police actions against similar gangs.