Palma chain snatches: two men jailed after three robberies
Two men are in prison after three alleged gold-chain robberies at an event in Palma. Police say the chains were pulled from young men in the La Indioteria neighbourhood on Saturday afternoon, with the suspects using the crush of people to get away. The National Police investigation remains open and further arrests have not been ruled out.
Officers from Palma's West police station had deployed at the leisure area because of the large turnout. Their operation was intended to prevent drug dealing, violent theft and other thefts.
Off-duty officer steps in
Police were called to a large commotion inside the venue and found two men struggling on the ground. One said he was an off-duty National Police officer who had been at the event.
He told officers he had seen the other man take a gold chain from a young man. When he tried to hold the suspected thief, he said the chain was passed to another man accompanying a woman, who allegedly hid the jewellery beneath the hat she was wearing.
The man and woman left as the struggle began. The off-duty officer later gave police descriptions of both.
Footage identifies two suspects
A second young man told officers his gold chain had been yanked from his neck. He saw a man moving away with it through the crowd, but other people stopped him before he could leave the venue.
One victim showed officers video footage said to capture the theft. Investigators identified two suspects in it, one Italian and one Colombian. A third young man later reported that his gold chain had also been stolen at the venue.
The two men were first arrested over two alleged violent robberies. Police later linked them to the third report, and judicial authorities ordered both to prison after they were brought before them.
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Topics: Police · Traffic · Palma
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com