Barcelona’s Vila de Gràcia district is facing a rise in shop robberies, with more than a dozen businesses affected this year around Carrer de la Providència and nearby streets. Shopkeepers say the pattern is unusual for an area long known for relatively low delinquency.
The break-ins mostly happen in the early morning. Thieves are said to get in by smashing shop windows or forcing open shutters and other access points, leaving local traders worried about both losses and safety.
Several businesses have reported serious damage. An IT shop on Carrer de la Providència lost computer equipment and customer materials worth about 8,000 euros, according to the owner, who told betevé it was the first robbery of that kind since the shop opened 25 years ago.
Other cases include a hairdressing salon in Plaça de Rovira i Trias, which was robbed twice in six weeks, and a collectibles shop that was emptied while it was moving and much of the stock was already packed for transport.
Traders are now calling for a stronger police presence, especially at night. The Gràcia district council says it has already increased the number of Guardia Urbana officers around Plaça de Rovira i Trias and is working more closely with the Mossos d’Esquadra to respond to the robberies.
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Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.
