“Insulting me is part of my paycheck”, states one of four City Guards officers in Barcelona. This morning, June 4, operations began in the Ciutat Vella district. “That isn
9t true”, counters another colleague. “What worries us is that respect for officers is waning. When they are in a group, people confront us, cheer on the challenge, and often end up attacking us”, they agree.
Police officers note that the ongoing tensions of the pandemic have left residents, especially the youngest, on edge as bans have faded. Now that restrictions are lifting, many people resist any police intervention, even for actions as simple as stopping drinking on the street or lowering loud music in public spaces. In Barcelona, these activities remain forbidden, and enforcement is expected. The city is waking up from COVID-19 lethargy with renewed urgency, officers warn. El Perif3dico de Catalunya followed City Guard patrols through the oldest parts of the city the previous morning. Here is what was observed.
Rolex Thief Arrested
Just before ten oa0clock, a criminal incident captures attention: a watchmaker, a thief with a taste for high-end timepieces, strips a tourist of a Rolex worth about 20,000 euros on Sant Pere Mitja street and disappears. He does not get far. Moments later, agents catch him as he tries to stash the watch near a neighborhood gate. The victim could not be located at first; officials suspect the person was frightened and may have gone to a hotel, leaving investigators with a perplexing clue to an unusual sequence of events.
An hour later, Urbana begins clearing plazas as riot police arrive. In areas such as Els Angels or Terenci Moix, the cleanup teams are admitted before midnight to gain access. Officers acknowledge that, without the intervention of the cleaning crews, some youths would impede their work. While these youths were not highly rebellious that night, their numbers were down thanks to the patrol presence. During Spring Sound, a few teenagers chose to ignore flashing signals from patrols. Officials explain that fines for this disruption run about 15 euros if paid immediately.
While attempting to break bottles, a call comes in about a suicide attempt. A 28-year-old woman is found near a Barcelona metro line. Guards locate her and she decides to try again at another station, according to a tip. Urbana agents intercept her first, and she ultimately agrees to voluntary admission to a psychiatric facility.
Knife Fight
Before the end of the shift, a volatile clash unfolds near the Rambla del Raval as part of a strategy to clear crowded squares by slowly making space. Two young men engage in a brutal altercation in a bar near the Botero cat statue. One person sustains several wounds and is threatened with a knife. The younger attacker is arrested as police intervene.
As the patrol car completes its circuit through the Rambla del Raval to continue clearing bottles, a young Argentinian woman reports a phone theft. She explains that she briefly handed her device to a person to locate a street and forgot it in her holster. Within moments the thief, unseen, removes the phone. The officers exit the vehicle and locate the scene at a hotel on Hospital Street. Footage confirms a man approached from behind, slipped a hand into the victim
9s holster, and removed the device without notice.
Violent Robbery
Around two in the morning, a new operation linked to another service targets violence in the streets. Several men escort a companion into a taxi when a pickpocket attack erupts on Carrer dton En Roig. One victim loses a gold chain, another loses a mobile phone. Sensing danger, witnesses draw attention, and another Urbana patrol arrives. The suspect is pursued on foot and captured after a brief chase. The assailant resists, insisting that he will be released immediately.
0One of the victims explains, with a mixture of disappointment and fear, that the phone was in his hand and he did not realize the criminal intended to steal his belongings. A red mark around the neck remains as a reminder of the force used during the theft.
The night continues with further incidents as bars and nightclubs close. Beachgoers at Somorrostro report similar losses, where people leave belongings unattended as they rest on the sand before heading home.
Crime Normality
Crime indicators are a reliable gauge of a city
9s pulse. Data show very low numbers in 2020 and 2021, but 2022 reveals an uptick. Police sources point to a notable rise in violent robberies. El Perif3dico de Catalunya observed only three incidents that night in Ciutat Vella, a reflection of broader trends as the city recovers economically and welcomes more tourists. Officials caution against surrendering to a sense of inevitability, stressing that the rebound in thefts and assaults is an unintended side effect of the recovery. During a recent device deployment, authorities urged residents not to view this as a catastrophe, but rather as a challenge to be managed while the city stabilizes. The goal remains to maintain public safety without compromising civil life.