There were 33 thieves caught red-handed in Madrid, believed to be part of a summer burglary wave targeting homes in municipalities and counties within the capital’s jurisdiction. The crimes took place during the first two weeks of August when many residences are empty because residents are away on vacation.
According to the Madrid Police Station, most arrests occurred at night, with criminals breaking into homes while occupants were away. Many offenders used a common pattern, testing doors and windows before committing their thefts and leaving visible signs of forced access to mislead caregivers and neighbors into thinking the property was abandoned for the season.
The typical prize for these thieves appeared to be jewelry and cash, and nearly all were identified by residents in the buildings or communities where the incidents occurred. The 33 arrests form part of the so-called Summer 2022 operation, a program launched by the Madrid Police Headquarters to deter these robberies across the city and surrounding municipalities.
Persecution in Alcorcón
One of the earliest incidents in the first half of August involved a morning encounter with three men who were spotted moving through an alley. When they detected the police presence, they fled, triggering a short pursuit through the town.
Moments after the chase began, one of the suspects, found carrying a stash of jewelry and cash in a pocket, was apprehended following a preemptive action tied to a nearby investigation of a similar theft. After the arrest, officers identified two accomplices, who were also detained the next morning after an off-duty officer warned about suspicious activity near a gate. During the operation, authorities recovered tools used to mark doors and force locks, as well as the stolen valuables and banknotes.
Discovered through peephole
In the early hours of August 2, patrols were seen on a Leganés street investigating homes with signs indicating they were left vacant by occupants away on vacation. The operation led to a confrontation with two men who were seen entering a house that appeared unattended after peering through a peephole and sensing danger. The subsequent pursuit ended with the two suspects detained inside the residence.
Just twenty-four hours later, a citizen security officer received a tip from a resident who reported seeing two men through a peephole entering a neighbor’s house that was empty. Police quickly moved in, catching the pair red-handed inside the home. After a struggle, the suspects were restrained and taken into custody, with the tools, jewelry, and cash used to bypass doors seized as evidence.
Objects thrown from balcony
In another early intervention in Madrid, a resident from the Moratalaz district heard noises from a neighboring apartment and looked out to find people acting suspiciously. After notifying the police, officers found that a window or door had been forced. Inside, investigators located two more men trying to conceal themselves behind furniture and discarding stolen items from a balcony to avoid detection.
Both suspects were arrested, and authorities later recovered the stolen items pending return to their rightful owners. The sequence of actions in these incidents illustrates a targeted effort by criminals to exploit summer vacancies, drain valuables, and evade immediate capture, prompting heightened patrols and community awareness across the capital and nearby towns. The operation remains a clear reminder that vigilance by residents and rapid, coordinated police response are essential to reducing home burglaries during high-absence periods. Evidence collected at multiple scenes has been used to build a broader case against the offenders and to deter similar attempts in the future.