Man wanted for jewellery theft vanishes from Andorran guesthouse while awaiting repatriation

Police have launched a search-and-capture operation after a 43-year-old man who had been brought from Armenia and tried in Andorra disappeared from the guesthouse where he was being held while awaiting repatriation.

The man completed the remaining 16 days of a sentence at the Comella penitentiary and was released. Because he could not be expelled into the Schengen area — he has an expulsion order that prevents entry to Spain and France — authorities arranged for him to stay in a pension while officials organised his return to his country of origin. Staff at the guesthouse were instructed to prevent him leaving and he was given ordinary care, including methadone for drug addiction.

Police sources say he stayed at the guesthouse the day he was released but disappeared shortly afterward. A national arrest alert has been activated and neighbouring countries have been informed in case he crossed the border.

The man is wanted in connection with a 2019 theft in a Principality jewellery shop, in which a ring valued at more than €8,000 was taken. He is also accused of attempting, in 2020 with an accomplice, to steal a watch valued at about €21,000, pearls worth around €1,400 and cufflinks worth about €500. In those incidents he is alleged to have used distraction techniques rather than violence or intimidation.

Authorities have noted the difficulties surrounding the case because of the Schengen expulsion order: since France and Spain refused to accept him, repatriation to his country of origin had to be arranged with additional guarantees. Police say there is no indication so far that he stole a vehicle or committed other offences to flee, and investigations to locate him continue.