The Policía Nacional arrested a woman aged around 30 in Logroño on 25 August. According to the Jefatura Superior in La Rioja she is accused of stealing a gold chain and sexually harassing him beforehand. The incident is one of the methods repeatedly described by the authorities as “hurto amoroso”, in which offenders use closeness and distraction to steal valuables.
The Policía Nacional said the woman approached the man in a central shopping street, started a conversation and made sexual advances towards him. The man rejected them. After he returned to his home, she reportedly entered the building, continued the interaction and physically harassed him; according to the victim, she also touched his genitals. Shortly afterwards, the man noticed that his gold chain was missing, called the police and held the suspect in the hallway. Officers arrived shortly afterwards and found her in the lift and took her arrest away.
Police classify the case as “hurto amoroso”. According to the Jefatura Superior, this type of offence involves deliberately approaching someone, unexpected physical contact and distraction to steal jewellery or cash without being noticed. In mid-August, authorities in La Rioja had already warned of similar incidents and urged people to be more vigilant.
On the status of the case, the Policía Nacional said the woman had been arrested on suspicion of theft and sexual assault and handed over to the judicial authorities. No further details were initially available about possible additional complaints or a court appearance. The investigation is ongoing.
From the police perspective, the main risk of this method lies in the element of surprise and the exploitation of social inhibitions. Police recommend keeping your distance if someone approaches you intrusively, not confronting suspects alone and calling the emergency number immediately. According to the authorities, information from the public can help identify a series of offences and disrupt the movement of stolen goods.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).