The Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested a 46-year-old man accused of stealing copper pipes, brass parts, and stopcocks from water meters in the entrances of buildings in the Sant Antoni neighborhood of Barcelona. The investigation places the incidents between early February and April and attributes three robberies in different neighborhood communities in the area to the arrested man.
The case shows a clear difference between the money obtained and the damage caused. While the detainee would have obtained about 3,000 euros from selling the material to scrap metal companies, the repair of the damage in just two of the affected properties exceeds 3,700 euros.
Residents caught him hiding in a Sant Antoni building twice
In one of the investigated buildings, the suspect entered on two occasions. On both occasions, residents of the community discovered him when he was hidden inside the property.
During one of these entries, he left behind a bag with the tools he used to commit the robberies. This finding was incorporated into an investigation focused on thefts in the entrances of several communities in the neighborhood.
The identification of the arrested man progressed with the recognition by victims and with images captured by security cameras. With these elements, the Mossos d'Esquadra located him and carried out the arrest.
The sale of copper and brass amounted to 42 transactions
The investigation also made it possible to track the sale of the stolen material. The officers attribute the sale of copper pipes, brass parts, and other stolen items to scrap metal companies to the detainee.
In total, the Mossos d'Esquadra have verified more than 42 sales transactions of the stolen material, which would have generated an income of approximately 3,000 euros.
In addition to the value of these transactions, the damage to the affected properties increased the economic impact of the case. In just two of the communities, the cost of repairing the damage exceeds 3,700 euros.
The man, who has a record for property crimes and similar offenses, was brought before the court on May 20.