Mossos d'Esquadra, Guàrdia Urbana de L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, and Policía Nacional launched a major joint operation on Thursday, targeting violent thieves who use high-speed electric scooters for snatch thefts in L'Hospitalet, Catalonia's second-largest city. This coordinated effort, dubbed 'Operation Kanpai-Bastió', aims to combat a crime wave where half of all reported robberies in the municipality involve electric scooters, leaving residents feeling terrorised.
Targeting Violent Scooter Thieves
The operation focuses on L'Hospitalet neighbourhoods most affected by these crimes. Police are increasing street presence to disrupt the activities of these thieves. Perpetrators are often young, frequently of Latin American origin, and modify Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) to reach speeds far exceeding the legal limit of 25 km/h. Many of these scooters are stolen, and some thieves carry weapons.
Guàrdia Urbana officers recently seized electric scooters capable of reaching speeds up to 114 km/h. They also found other scooters with tampered displays, showing lower speeds than their actual maximum. This widespread issue prompted the current police action. Mossos d'Esquadra and Guàrdia Urbana have already been patrolling to remove suspicious electric scooters.
High-Speed Scooters and Tampered Displays
'Operation Kanpai-Bastió' is a precursor to a larger "shock plan" designed to eradicate violent robberies committed from scooters. The joint police presence aims to significantly improve the sense of security among local residents. The operation involved various units, including Mossos' Urban Crime Group, ARRO, and the Guilles motor unit, alongside local and national police forces.
During Thursday's deployment, Mossos d'Esquadra identified 65 individuals. They arrested four people based on judicial warrants and issued four more citations for drug possession. Officers also inspected two establishments, with one mobile phone resale shop receiving an administrative complaint for failing to report transactions and other consumer infringements.
Joint Police Action Yields Results
Guàrdia Urbana officers seized six electric scooters due to administrative infractions; these were taken to the municipal depot. El Caso.com reported that only one in ten owners typically collects these scooters, often because they lack the necessary documentation, indicating the vehicles are likely stolen. Additionally, the city police cited one person for drug offences and another for street vending, also seizing a mobile phone for misappropriation. Policía Nacional officers cited seven individuals for immigration law infringements, as they did not have their papers in order.
Authorities expect these intensified operations to continue, aiming to dismantle the networks behind these violent scooter robberies. The ongoing pressure seeks to restore public confidence and ensure safer streets for L'Hospitalet's residents. This initial deployment sets the stage for sustained efforts to tackle this specific crime trend.
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Originally published by El Caso (El Nacional). Read original article.
