The Civil Guard has arrested five men accused of two violent robberies in the car park of a shopping centre in Majadahonda. The material author of the events has already been imprisoned.
The Civil Guard has put an end to the activities of a criminal organisation specialised in the theft of high-end watches in the western area of the Community of Madrid. The five detainees, who acted with a simulated pistol, operated in the car park of a shopping centre in Majadahonda, where they threatened their victims to steal their watches.
The investigation began last November when agents received a report of a violent robbery in which the thief, after pointing a weapon at the victim, snatched a watch valued at 1,000 euros. From that moment on, investigators managed to identify the members of the gang and unravel their modus operandi.
A structure with clearly defined roles
The organisation was perfectly structured. Two of the members were responsible for identifying potential victims inside the shopping centre. They followed them, noted their clothing, and transmitted the information to the rest of the group via mobile devices.
Once the victim left the establishment, a third member continued the follow-up until the arrival of the two material authors of the robbery, who travelled on a motorcycle. While the driver circled the area, the passenger would get off, point the gun at the victim, and steal the watch. Immediately afterwards, both would flee at high speed.
The weapon used, as confirmed by the Civil Guard, was simulated. It is currently in the forensic laboratory of the armed institute, where it is being analysed to determine its exact nature.
Arrests in several provinces
The arrests were not limited to the Community of Madrid. Agents arrested the five suspects in Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Tarragona, and Córdoba. Of all of them, the material author of the robberies has been placed in preventive custody by court order, while the others were released with charges, awaiting further progress in the case.
During the operation, investigators managed to recover the watch stolen in November, which had been sold in a buy-and-sell shop in Madrid. The piece has already been returned to its rightful owner.
A warning for luxury watch buyers
This type of robbery, increasingly frequent in high-income areas of the Community of Madrid, raises alarms for enthusiasts of high-end watchmaking. The Civil Guard recommends exercising extreme caution when leaving shopping centres or jewellery stores, especially if wearing a valuable watch. Avoiding lonely routes in car parks and being alert to any suspicious behaviour can make a difference.
For the residents of Majadahonda and neighbouring municipalities such as Pozuelo de Alarcón or Las Rozas, the news comes as a relief, as the gang operated in a very busy area. The affected shopping centre, although not officially identified, is one of the most frequented in the area, which generated some concern among regular customers.
The Civil Guard continues its investigations to determine whether the organisation could be involved in other similar robberies in the region. For now, the five detainees will have to answer to justice for the two confirmed assaults, while the simulated weapon remains under examination.
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