Three detained in Andorra la Vella over suspected storage‑unit burglary ring
Police arrested three non‑resident men after months of surveillance on a group accused of forcing storage‑unit locks across the central valley since.
Key Points
- Three non‑resident men (31, 41, 49) detained in Andorra la Vella on suspicion of belonging to an organised group targeting storage units since August.
- Police found tools for forcing locks, watch‑dismantling equipment, gold‑testing devices and items believed stolen in/near foreign‑registered vehicles.
- Group allegedly rented units to obtain access codes, then forced padlocks of other units; suspects intercepted before removing items this time.
- Four complaints filed Aug–Oct with reported losses near €90,000; suspects have prior records in other European countries and investigation remains open.
The police detained three non-resident men, aged 31, 41 and 49, over the weekend in Andorra la Vella on suspicion of belonging to an organised group that has been forcing storage‑unit locks in the central valley since August. The arrests follow a months‑long investigation by the Police Property Crimes Group, which had been monitoring the area and waiting for the suspects to return.
Two men were stopped on Saturday afternoon in the vicinity of storage facilities on Verge del Remei / Verge del Pilar, near Avinguda Tarragona and the Fener car park. Officers located two foreign‑registered vehicles, including an Audi, and found in or near one of the cars a range of items consistent with storage‑unit burglaries: tools for forcing locks, equipment for dismantling watches and devices to test the authenticity and purity of gold, together with objects believed to be stolen.
Investigators say the group's modus operandi was to rent a unit legally—often via a web platform—to obtain the building access code, then force the padlocks of other units and remove valuables. On this occasion police believe the suspects arrived in Andorra the same day in two vehicles with foreign plates and had forced at least two storage units but had not yet removed items when they were intercepted.
Two of the men were arrested “in flagrante” inside a second building; they attempted to flee and are also being investigated for offences against public officials. The third suspect was detained on Sunday midday after surveillance units observed him return to the area, apparently to retrieve a vehicle or an item linked to the group.
So far four complaints related to similar incidents between August and October have been filed, with reported losses totaling close to €90,000. Police say international cooperation established that the three suspects have prior records for similar offences in other European countries.
Authorities are compiling a dossier of evidence and the complaints to submit to the judicial authorities. The investigation remains open and further arrests have not been ruled out.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources:
- El Periòdic•
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- Diari d'Andorra•
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- Bon Dia•
Detinguts tres homes sospitosos de cometre furts amb força en trasters des de l'agost
- Diari d'Andorra•
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- El Periòdic•
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- Altaveu•
Intercepten tres joves amb cocaïna quan volien accedir en cotxe al país
- ARA•
Tres integrants d'una banda organitzada detinguts per robar en diversos trasters
- Altaveu•
La policia atribueix als detinguts per robar en trasters la causació d'un perjudici de 90.000 euros
- Diari d'Andorra•
Tres detinguts per robar a trasters a la vall central
- Altaveu•
La policia deté un tercer sospitós de robar en trasters
- Altaveu•
Enxampats 'in fraganti' dos homes que se sospita que des de feia dies robaven en trasters