Three men with impressive criminal histories were arrested after a café robbery in Collado Villalba and a high-speed pursuit across the Madrid region, which ended at Terminal 4 of Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport. The suspects, all Spanish nationals, stole a safe from the establishment and fled in a car reported stolen days earlier.
The incident began in the early hours of August 19, when National Police officers responded to a reported assault in Villa de Vallecas. During the response, officers noticed a suspicious vehicle and signaled for it to stop. The driver accelerated, triggering a chase along the A-3, M-50, M-31, M-45 and R-3 highways. The suspects drove at high speed, at times against the flow of traffic, endangering other motorists and pedestrians.
The pursuit ended at Barajas Airport, where the driver abandoned the vehicle and tried to flee on foot before officers apprehended him. The two passengers were detained at the scene. A search of the car revealed a forced safe, burglary tools, gloves and a device used to start vehicles without keys. Police confirmed that the car had been stolen in Villalvilla a week earlier and traced the safe to the café robbery in Collado Villalba that same night. Several police vehicles were damaged during the operation.
The detainees, aged 33, 39 and 48, face charges including burglary, vehicle theft, endangering road safety, document forgery and property damage. The oldest suspect has nearly 50 prior police records, ranging from similar thefts to drug-related offenses. The other two also have extensive criminal backgrounds. All three have been brought before a judge.
Cases involving high-speed pursuits and organized theft have drawn increased attention in Spain, where police resources are stretched by complex operations. Authorities have also recently dealt with other high-risk incidents, such as the armed confrontation between drug traffickers and the Guardia Civil in Huelva. That incident highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement.
Spain’s National Police and Guardia Civil regularly coordinate to address organized crime and vehicle theft, particularly in the Madrid region, where major transport hubs such as Barajas Airport can become focal points for criminal activity. The use of stolen vehicles in robberies remains a persistent issue, prompting authorities to reinforce patrols and surveillance on basic routes. Residents and business owners are advised to remain vigilant, especially in areas with a recent uptick in property crimes.
