Two members of a gang that robbed tourists of luxury watches in Mallorca and Ibiza have been arrested and jailed in the United Kingdom, Spain’s National Police have confirmed. A third suspect remains at large.
The robberies
According to the police, the group stole four high-end watches worth a total of €525,000 over a few days in August 2023:
- 22 August, Mallorca: two violent robberies within an hour, with watches worth €95,000 taken;
- 25–28 August, Ibiza: two more thefts, with watches worth €430,000.
How they operated
Investigators describe a well-organised group. The suspects used false identities to hire cars, watched their targets before acting, and carried out fast, violent snatches. One member would grab the watch from the victim’s wrist, sometimes overcoming resistance, while the others waited in a car to make a quick getaway.
The investigation
The case was led by the National Police unit in the Balearics that specialises in violent crime. Investigators identified the suspects using forensic evidence and international police databases, and European arrest warrants led to the arrests in the UK. The police have not released the suspects’ names, nationalities or ages while judicial proceedings continue.
The investigation into the gang’s wider connections, and into how the stolen watches were sold on, is continuing.
A recurring problem
Watch robberies targeting wealthy visitors have become a familiar summer problem in Mediterranean resorts, including Ibiza, Marbella and parts of Mallorca. Thieves often work in teams, singling out victims wearing expensive watches in nightlife areas, car parks and outside restaurants.
Advice for visitors
- Avoid wearing very valuable watches and jewellery in crowded or nightlife areas.
- Use the hotel safe for valuables you do not need.
- Be aware of anyone paying unusual attention to you or following you.
- If you are robbed, do not resist — your safety comes first — and report it to the police immediately on 091 or 112.
