Early Sunday afternoon in the Torrero district, a gas station employee faced a shocking armed robbery. A man, holding a knife, approached the counter and demanded access to the cash register. When the employee hesitated, fear took over, and the robber grabbed the opportunity to snatch cash before fleeing. He then approached the worker, embracing him and kissing his cheek in a moment of unsettling proximity before escaping with more than five hundred euros in bills and coins.
The incident occurred around 2:30 pm. The robber’s brief, nerve‑jangling interaction left the staff visibly shaken, and investigators later charged him with armed robbery and sexual assault based on the affectionate gesture that followed the robbery.
As the suspect exited the gas station, a nearby passerby noticed the defendant’s movements and suspected something was off. The man tracked the suspect and reported his observations to the authorities. Security officers from the Aragon region, part of the Citizen Security Brigade, responded to the scene and began a sweep through the area, eventually locating the suspect and additional persons who had been seen in the vicinity.
Within minutes, two associates, aged 35 and 36 and described as of Hispanic descent, were detained for questioning. Both were later released after giving statements at the police station. One of the associates had a lengthy arrest record, with around a dozen prior detentions, while the other carried an even longer history with roughly thirty entries.
The principal suspect, a 45‑year‑old man, faces more than sixty arrests to date, with several new charges emerging this month. Authorities ordered his remand due to the gravity of the offenses and the details provided in his statement prior to sentencing.
In a separate but related case, the same individual is suspected of a flamboyant heist at a local pizzeria earlier in the month. The incident took place around 21:20 at a Telepizza outlet on Via de Ramón Pignatelli in Torrero. The suspect entered with scissors in hand and demanded food rather than money, shouting threats when staff hesitated to call the police. He warned he would wait outside to carry out further intimidation and even threatened violence. The staff complied, and the suspect left without injuring anyone, but the episode left the restaurant staff shaken and the authorities reviewing the footage to determine any links to other incidents in the area.
These events underscore a pattern of violent crime being reported in the district and across nearby neighborhoods. Local law enforcement continues to investigate both the robbery at the gas station and the ensuing dining‑room incident to determine whether they are connected and to identify any broader security risks in the community. The investigating teams emphasize that residents should remain vigilant, report suspicious behavior promptly, and follow guidance from local authorities regarding safety and reporting procedures. The police remind residents that quick reporting can help prevent further harm and aid in the swift apprehension of suspects, especially in cases involving weapons or potential sexual assault accusations. [Source: Local Police Statements, Aragon Security Directorate, and subsequent court filings]
Robbed the pizzeria for food
That same individual has a history of attention‑grabbing episodes. Earlier in the month, he allegedly entered a Telepizza location asking for a meal rather than money. The incident unfolded at 21:20, at the Via de Ramón Pignatelli outlet in Torrero. Witnesses reported that the man brandished scissors and shouted that he wanted his food. When staff refused to call police and warned him about potential consequences, he became more aggressive, knocking over furniture. Local police ultimately detained him without anyone being injured, and investigators are connecting this incident with the earlier gas station events as part of a broader review of the subject’s pattern of behavior.