A large-scale operation has been completed in Ibiza to apprehend a criminal group from Naples specializing in stealing luxury watches. According to police, the perpetrators operated in July, targeting victims in popular holiday spots and entertainment venues on the island.
During the investigation, two Italian nationals were arrested. They are charged with participation in an organized criminal group, document forgery, and committing thefts with violence. Investigators estimate the total value of the stolen watches at €479,500. Among the stolen items were three exclusive models, each valued between €30,000 and €400,000.
The criminals meticulously planned their actions. They tracked owners of expensive accessories, approached them unnoticed, and using agility or force, snatched the watches from their wrists. To make quick getaways, they used motorcycles with fake plates that were brought to the island from Naples inside a van. After the thefts, the vehicles were returned to Italy and swapped for other models to make tracking more difficult.
As a result of joint efforts by Spanish police and the Italian Polizia di Stato, two motorcycles, a car, a van, and several sets of fake license plates were seized. The operation was conducted by the Drug and Organized Crime Unit (UDYCO) in Ibiza with support from Italian colleagues.
The investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement authorities do not rule out that other members of this group may be detained in the near future. Police are urging residents and visitors to the island to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious situations related to the theft of valuables.
This incident once again highlights the pressing issue of organized crime in Spain’s popular tourist destinations and the need for international cooperation to combat such offenses.
