Catalonia's police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, have arrested two suspected thieves who allegedly stole money in the street from the 89-year-old mother of Badalona mayor Xavier García Albiol . Albiol announced the arrests on social media on 3 November 2026 and thanked the officers. Investigators identified the suspects, according to police, using footage from nearby CCTV cameras.
The theft took place a few weeks ago in Badalona, after the woman had withdrawn cash from a cash machine. According to consistent accounts, the thieves used a familiar distraction theft: one spoke to the passer-by and pointed out a supposed stain, while an accomplice used the distraction to grab the cash. Albiol said his mother lives alone and uses crutches.
The Mossos d'Esquadra initially gave no further details about the identities of those arrested, the cash recovered or the subsequent proceedings. The exact time of the offence was also not disclosed. It was not known on Tuesday whether or when the suspects would appear before an investigating judge.
Albiol coupled his thanks to the police with political demands. He called for changes to the law which, he said, would allow a tougher response to repeat property offences. No specific legislative initiatives had been put forward by Tuesday. Statements about possible tougher laws are the mayor's political position; no concrete legislative steps in Barcelona or Madrid had been reported.
The case has fuelled a recurring debate in Badalona and the Barcelona metropolitan area about public safety and how to deal with serial and opportunistic offences. Local politicians have long been discussing additional video surveillance and municipal prevention measures. It remains to be seen how the latest arrests will affect those discussions.
The arrests were made public on 3 November 2026 and confirmed by several consistent reports citing statements from the Mossos d'Esquadra and the mayor's account. No information on charging decisions or judicial assessments was available at the time of publication.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).