Owner of a jewellery shop in the Eixample arrested for buying and reselling stolen jewellery in Barcelona

Mossos d’Esquadra have arrested the owner of a jewellery shop in the Eixample accused of acquiring and reselling stolen jewellery and watches. The investigation revealed that the establishment did not issue sales receipts and that a large proportion of its customers had previous convictions for property offences.

The operation began in July, when a man trying to sell a stolen item had his mobile phone stolen inside one of the shops under investigation. From that incident, officers focused on the premises and those responsible for them. One of the co-owners was already in prison, while the woman now arrested was caught twice with concealed jewellery and cash.

The seized pieces came from a break-in at a home in Cervera, committed in June, and have already been returned to their owners. On 22 October, Mossos, the Inspección de Trabajo and the Guardia Urbana searched one of the businesses, culminating in the suspect's arrest for handling stolen goods and other offences.

The case once again brings attention to police checks on the second-hand trade and their impact on the safety of areas such as the Eixample and Ciutat Vella.