Five arrested in Palma for theft of beer and milk from shopping centre
The National Police arrested five men following several thefts from a shopping centre in Palma between late October and early November.
Five men arrested for thefts at Palma shopping centre
The National Police have arrested five men in Palma accused of committing several thefts from a shopping centre, according to Majorca Daily Bulletin. The suspects are believed to have stolen cans of beer and cartons of milk between 29 October and the early hours of 3 November.
Two of those arrested were captured on separate occasions after scaling the security wall of the centre. The other three were arrested after gaining entry through a hole they had cut in one of the building's façades.
The first incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday 29 October. A patrol from the Citizens Assistance Group (GAC) observed two men crouching behind a vehicle near the shopping centre. Suspecting they were preparing a theft, officers maintained surveillance and saw one of them scaling the security wall with the other's help to gain entry.
Minutes later, the man who had entered reappeared from behind the wall carrying several packs of canned beer, whilst his accomplice assisted him. Officers intercepted both men before they could leave the area and confirmed the theft of six packs of beer. During an identity check, officers discovered that one of those arrested was subject to a restraining order prohibiting him from entering the city centre. Both were taken to the police station.
The second incident occurred at around 00.50 hours on 3 November, when several GAC patrols were called to the same shopping centre by the emergency services on 091. The security guard had detected two individuals in the loading area via surveillance cameras.
Upon arrival, officers saw two men leaving the premises by jumping over the wall. Upon noticing the police presence, they ran off. During the pursuit, one of them discarded several stolen items: milk cartons. Officers intercepted them a short distance away and confirmed they were the same two men arrested on 29 October. They were arrested again. During transport to the police station, one of them commented to officers that "everyone does it" and that he had been released that same morning.
Subsequently, at around 03.45 hours on 3 November, emergency services 091 received a new alert from the centre's security guard, who reported that three men had entered the premises through a small opening in the façade. The three individuals fled whilst carrying stolen packs of canned beer. Several patrols were dispatched and located three men in a landscaped area near the centre.
After verifying that their physical appearance and clothing matched the description provided, officers proceeded to intercept them. Next to the suspects, one of the officers found a pack of 25 cans of beer. When asked where it came from, one of the men claimed they had found it in the rubbish. Following appropriate checks, the three were arrested for theft and taken to the police station.
Source: Majorca Daily Bulletin