Mallorca and Ibiza luxury watch thefts: 34 arrested

Palma, Mallorca, and Ibiza are named in a luxury-watch robbery investigation that has led to 34 arrests across Spain. At Ibiza airport, police stop several suspects before they board a flight and find a watch worth more than 450,000 euros among a woman’s belongings. Spain’s National Police reports the results on 19 October 2026.

Police link 28 violent robberies to eight organised groups. The Spanish National Police worked with Italy’s Polizia di Stato during the summer operation. It says some groups made short trips to tourist areas and left soon after a theft.

On Ibiza, lookouts searched promenades, marinas, nightlife areas and car parks for people wearing expensive watches. Others snatched the watches, while motorcycle riders waited to get them away. Police say some groups used serious physical violence, as well as false documents and altered number plates to avoid detection.

In another Ibiza case, officers arrested a group outside a nightclub after a watch worth 50,000 euros was stolen. Checks and surveillance at ports and airports in the second half of August led to 20 more arrests before the suspects could leave the islands.

Police have recovered six luxury watches in all. The investigation remains open, and they have not ruled out further arrests.

Topics: Police · Arrests · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com