Majorca police arrest nearly 50 pickpockets in one month and draft in reinforcements ahead of summer crime wave

NEARLY 50 pickpockets and petty thieves targeting tourist victims have been arrested in the past month by police in Majorca.

The pickpocketing spree has prompted cops to draft in early reinforcements to tackle an expected summer crime wave.

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Spanish cops have warned tourists following a spree of pickpocketings[/caption]

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The Civil Guard brings in reinforcements every summer in Majorca to cope with the influx of criminals[/caption]

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Overnight detectives in Majorca revealed the first arrest figures linked to the ‘Operation Summer’ advance[/caption]

National Police on the holiday island announced on Monday they had brought forward ‘Operation Summer’ by bringing in extra officers from the mainland.

These officers specialise in ‘prevent and rapid response’ crimefighting to work along town hall-employed local police.

A spokesman for the force in Majorca said: “They will serve on the island for a month as a prelude to the incorporation of other units who will work in the municipality of Palma ahead of the arrival of reinforcements in Manacor in Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca.”

Overnight detectives in Majorca revealed the first arrest figures linked to the ‘Operation Summer’ advance.

A National Police spokesman said: “So far 19 people have been arrested in Palma’s Playa de Palma coastal area, most pickpockets and petty thieves acting at night-time.

“And in Palma’s urban area itself 30 people have been arrested who are also mostly pickpockets.”

Detailing the latest arrests this week, the spokesman added: “On Tuesday police in Playa de Palma arrested three men, two Romanians and a Moroccan, on suspicion of theft, fraud and misappropriation..

“One of them turned out to be wanted for drug trafficking.

“They are members of a criminal gang specialising in targeting tourists holidaying on the Majorcan coast.

“They acted on a task-sharing basis, taking belongings from holidaymakers including wallets and purses with ID documents and bank cards they then used for purchases in different shops or to take out money from cash machines.

“When they were arrested officers seized a rental car they had not returned to the hire car firm which they are suspected of intending to keep.

“€1,200 in cash was also confiscated from them along with two mobiles phones worth more than £850 each, documents and other high-end stolen items like designer sunglasses.

“All the items recovered had been reported stolen and have been returned to their rightful owners.

“In the early hours of Tuesday morning police arrested two minors in Playa de Palma they had spotted crawling across the sand to to take the belongings of some tourists who were in the sea.

“They were intercepted and the stolen items recovered.

“The detainees reacted aggressively when they were being arrested by kicking and punching the officers.

“On Tuesday afternoon around 3.30pm near Palma Cathedral two pickpockets were intercepted by police as they pinched a purse from a holidaymaker’s bag.

“The officers were able to return the stolen purse, which had 1,500 US dollars and other valuables inside, to the victim on the spot.”

One police insider said today after the figures were released: “The criminals we are tackling with Operation Summer have their sights set on tourists who tend to be more distracted and carry large amounts of cash with them.

“Many of the offenders are being caught red-handed by undercover cops disguised as holidaymakers themselves so they can blend in better.”

Although Playa de Palma east of the Majorcan capital is more popular with German and Dutch tourists than British visitors to the island, Brits are among the top victims in Palma centre.

The pickpocket and petty theft figures released by National Police earlier this week are separate to those of another national Spanish police force, the Civil Guard, who are responsible for areas like Magaluf.

The Civil Guard also brings in reinforcements every summer in Majorca to cope with the influx of criminals who base themselves on the island during peak season to take advantage of the fact there are more people to target than in winter.

It comes following a similar warning to tourists visiting the popular spot Benidorm over the summer.

Spanish cops have urged Brit holidaymakers to take care after footage surfaced showing tourists being targeted on “muggers alley”.

The Policia Nacional told The Spanish Eye it has had multiple reports from victims and has “intervened and arrested the perpetrators several times.”

It added: “As a preventative measure, continuous patrols are carried out in this area, as well as throughout the rest of the town, to prevent the commission of this crime.”