Madrid jewelry retailers warn of surge in violent robberies

The Madrid Jewelers Guild says the region has seen at least eight major jewelry store robberies in the last three months, many of them involving weapons and violent tactics. Incidents have occurred not only in the capital but also in nearby towns such as Pinto and Torrelodones. The guild attributes the spike partly to the recent rise in gold prices, which they say makes the sector a more attractive target for criminal groups.

Authorities recently dismantled part of a gang suspected of five of the robberies, arresting eleven people, including two who had tried to disguise themselves as clergy during the Pope’s June visit to Madrid. The guild says the arrests are not enough and is calling for stricter penalties and the right to act as a private prosecutor in jewelry‑theft cases. "The problem is that we don't know what their reaction could be. They are unpredictable," said Armando Rodríguez, the guild’s secretary general.