A 45-year-old man, identified as a Cuban national, was apprehended on Monday following his attempt to rob a jewelry store at gunpoint in the Can Parellada neighborhood of Terrassa, Barcelona. The incident was thwarted by several locals who physically subdued him before he could flee.
The attempted robbery took place around 8 PM, just before the store's closing time, on Europa Street. According to local outlet Catalunya Press, the suspect entered the store wielding a firearm and began threatening the owner, demanding both jewelry and cash.
During the confrontation, the assailant struck the jeweler with the weapon, resulting in minor injuries.
Eyewitnesses in the vicinity quickly intervened, confronting and restraining the suspect on the spot, ensuring he neither escaped nor stole anything, as reported by ElCaso.com.
After emergency services were alerted via the 112 hotline, multiple patrols from the Mossos d'Esquadra and Terrassa Municipal Police arrived at the scene, arresting the suspect at the location of the attempted theft.
The case is now under the jurisdiction of the Mossos' Criminal Investigation Division, which has initiated proceedings to piece together the events of the robbery attempt and ascertain whether the suspect acted alone or with accomplices, as well as any potential connections to other similar incidents.
The jewelry store owner has already provided a statement to the Catalan police, corroborating the details of the event.
This incident is not an isolated one involving Cuban nationals in Spain. In May 2025, a Cuban was detained as part of a gang responsible for thefts across the country. Additionally, in October of the same year, another Cuban was arrested in Madrid following a fatal assault in the Puente de Vallecas district.
The Terrassa robbery attempt is part of a wider series of violent jewelry store heists in Catalonia during the spring of 2026. On April 27, several armed individuals stormed a jewelry store in Roda de Ter, Osona, but were unsuccessful in their attempt, escaping in a waiting vehicle.
The ongoing investigation by the Mossos aims to determine whether the individual arrested in Terrassa is linked to this string of jewelry store robberies, which has heightened security concerns among Catalan law enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jewelry Store Robberies in Catalonia
What happened during the attempted robbery in Terrassa?
A Cuban man attempted to rob a jewelry store at gunpoint, but was subdued by local residents before he could escape.
Who is handling the investigation of the Terrassa robbery attempt?
The Mossos' Criminal Investigation Division is leading the investigation to uncover more details about the incident.
Are there any connections to other robberies?
The Mossos are investigating potential links between the arrested individual and a series of similar jewelry store robberies in Catalonia.