The Catalan police force has arrested four men believed to be part of a criminal organisation that specialised in preying on the sick and elderly across Catalonia. The arrests took place in Capellades, in the Anoia comarca, concluding a nine-month investigation into a string of calculated thefts targeting the region’s most vulnerable residents.
In a statement, the Mossos d’Esquadra confirmed that the four men, aged between 27 and 47, are facing multiple charges, including nine counts of theft, one count of violent robbery, seven counts of fraud, and belonging to a criminal group. The suspects, described as prolific repeat offenders, had amassed over 60 prior criminal records between them before their capture on 13 February.
The ‘Sowing’ Method: A Calculated Deception
Investigators said the group’s success relied on a specific form of distraction theft known in Spanish as the ‘método de la siembra’ (the ‘sowing’ method). Their approach was systematic and targeted individuals who were often in their cars, with personal items like handbags placed on the passenger seat.
The operation would typically unfold in car parks, particularly those in isolated areas or near facilities like health centres. One member of the gang would approach the victim with a manufactured distraction, such as claiming they had dropped coins on the ground or asking for directions. While the victim’s attention was diverted, a second accomplice would discreetly open the passenger door, snatch the belongings, and escape.
A third member would be waiting nearby in a getaway vehicle, allowing the thieves to flee the scene swiftly. The group took measures to evade capture, using rental cars to avoid being traced and wearing hats, sunglasses, or balaclavas to conceal their identities.
Closing the Net in Anoia
The Mossos’ Anoia Investigation Unit began its inquiry in May of last year after identifying a pattern of similar thefts across Catalonia. A breakthrough followed a series of robberies in the car park of the Primary Care Centre (CAP) in Piera. This location highlights the group’s strategy of targeting vulnerable individuals seeking medical care.
On 13 February, officers who had the suspects under surveillance caught them in the act as they committed another theft. According to reports first published by local news outlet El Caso, the police followed the men to the nearby town of Capellades, where they were arrested while attempting to withdraw cash from an ATM using bank cards they had just stolen.
This operation is the latest in a series of police actions against organised crime in the region. Recent months have seen authorities dismantle other sophisticated criminal networks, including a violent home invasion gang operating in Barcelona and another group involved in selling chemsex drugs from city apartments. The arrested men are now in custody and will face the judicial process for their alleged crimes.
