Palma thefts drop 10% but car break-ins keep rising

Thefts and violent robberies in Palma are down by about 10% this summer, but break-ins into cars are still rising. Spain’s National Police gave the provisional assessment on 27 August, with its summer operation running from mid-May until 30 September. So far, officers have arrested 450 people over offences targeted by the operation.

Nearly half of those arrests were made on the night shift by the Grupo Operativo de Respuesta, the police operational response group. Javier Martín de la Torre, who leads the unit, said a specialist theft team and work by the judicial police against robberies involving high-value watches had helped drive down crime.

Police officers from Germany, the Netherlands and Romania have also patrolled Palma’s tourist areas this summer. Martín de la Torre said the force hopes the fall in thefts and violent robberies continues until the operation ends.

Car break-ins in streets, car parks and garages remain the exception. They have increased since the start of the year, despite the wider summer measures. Police point to devices known as balizas as a major incentive for repeat offenders.

Martín de la Torre said officers catch one or two suspects in the act on almost every night, often after tips from the public. The National Police is proposing restraining orders or remand in custody, though the courts must decide on either measure.

Topics: Police · Tourism · Politics · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com