Spain Sees Surge in Luxury Watch Thefts: Police Adapt Strategy. Luxury watch thefts are on the rise in Spain’s resort regions. Criminals now strike without using motorcycles and make rapid getaways. Police have ramped up coordination and detained dozens of suspects.
Spain has seen a sharp rise in the number of expensive watch thefts targeting tourists and wealthy residents, especially in Malaga, Barcelona, Madrid, and the Balearic Islands. Criminal groups specializing in these thefts have changed their methods: now, they more often approach victims on foot rather than by motorcycle, acting as quickly and discreetly as possible. According to police, the value of stolen watches—including brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Cartier—sometimes reaches up to 100,000 euros.
New schemes and risk zones
Thieves choose busy tourist areas, parking lots, zones around hotels, and shopping centers. They wait until the person is relaxed—on holiday or out for a walk. In most cases, criminals try to avoid using force, but if met with resistance, they do not hesitate to employ violence. For example, in August of last year in Ibiza, a man died while trying to prevent a theft. Recently in Madrid, a tourist from Mexico became a victim of an attack involving a chokehold—his Rolex worth 36,000 euros was stolen. The suspect was detained the next day with 8,400 euros in cash, which, according to investigators, confirms the rapid resale of stolen items.
Organization and international ties
According to police, most of these criminal networks are based in Barcelona, from where groups travel to other cities — Madrid, Malaga, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, Marbella, and Ibiza. The organizers provide participants with fake documents, housing, and transportation. To mask themselves, the criminals use caps, masks, and sunglasses. After the theft, the watches are often quickly taken out of the country — worn on the wrist, hidden in vehicles, or sent by mail. Since the beginning of the year, a special unit of six officers has been established to coordinate investigations throughout Spain and maintain contact with colleagues in France and Italy, where similar crimes are also recorded. Over four months, 33 people have been detained in Spain and another one in France. A total of 41 violent robberies have been solved, along with one case of murder and three cases of bodily harm. Forty-three suspects remain at large.
Practical consequences and measures
Police note that the value of the stolen watches usually exceeds €5,000, and after the theft their price can drop by half. Attention is focused not only on investigations, but also on prevention: patrols in risk areas are being increased, information is being shared with foreign colleagues, especially during major events such as Oktoberfest in Munich or the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. Importantly, criminals quickly adapt to new conditions and change their tactics, requiring the police to constantly update their methods.
The rise in crime in Spain's tourist regions is becoming a significant problem for police and local authorities. Issues of safety and property protection remain in focus, especially amid an increase in foreign visitors. Similar challenges with maintaining order and investigating incidents have arisen in other areas as well, for example, when in Oviedo the consequences of an unsuccessful season for the local football club were discussed.
