The young Spanish couple, an 18-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man, did not hesitate to commit the act. They dragged an elderly woman through the streets of Old Town Palma de Mallorca to steal her bag. National Police officers in Palma detained them on suspicion of a violent theft, ultimately recovering the bag along with most of the stolen items.
The robbery happened in broad daylight last Monday, according to local reports. It was around 3:30 in the afternoon when the couple approached an elderly woman walking the medieval streets near La Seu and attempted to seize her purse. Because the victim was visibly frail, the criminals assumed she would not resist.
The assailants approached the old woman from behind, delivering a strong shove in an effort to unbalance her and grab the bag. The victim fell to the ground but clung to her belongings with surprising tenacity. The thieves did not hesitate to drag her a few meters down the street until they got away with the bag. The assailants fled, and those affected sought treatment at a local health center for shoulder injuries. — National Police report
A tip relayed through 091 led several National Police patrols to the scene. After canvassing the area, officers located the suspects on Avenidas de Palma, still in possession of the victim’s bag, which contained a cell phone and most of her money. — National Police report
The young woman had recently arrived in Palma with her partner, the man who had fled from his family home and came from the peninsula. Investigations suggest the couple planned their move after the man was accused by his partner’s father of assault. The pair are linked to previous complaints and arrests for violence against former partners. — Local police records
The man had been arrested in Palma in February on a gender-based violence charge. The woman reportedly refused to report the incident at the time, leading to precautionary measures being applied to the pair. Since arriving in the city, they allegedly turned to crime as a means of livelihood while facing ongoing economic hardship. — Police statements