Two women arrested in Playa de Palma for stealing mobile phones from tourists using aluminium foil

The Local Police in Palma have arrested two women aged 20 and 22 accused of stealing mobile phones from tourists at Playa de Palma. Officers found the devices wrapped in aluminium foil to prevent tracking.

The two detainees, of Romanian nationality, were intercepted last Saturday during a police sweep in the s'Arenal area. The officers acted after several citizens alerted them to a group of four people committing pickpocketing on Calle de la Perla.

During a preventive search, the police found a mobile phone in the handbag of each suspect. Both devices were wrapped in aluminium foil, a technique used to inhibit the signal and make it difficult to locate the device. Additionally, the women were carrying a roll of the same foil among their belongings.

Contradictions in the interrogation

When questioned about the origin of the phones, the detainees made several contradictions until they finally claimed to have bought them from an unknown person for 200 euros. However, the officers turned on the devices and found a contact of a relative in one of them. When called, a woman confirmed that two of her friends had recently had their backpacks stolen and that the phones were inside.

Recovery of the devices

The victims were summoned to the police station along the coast, where they were able to recover their phones and file the corresponding complaint. The two women were arrested for an alleged theft offence, and the Incident Room initiated judicial proceedings, with the cases being transferred to the National Police.

The Local Police in Palma advises bathers to exercise caution on the beach and not to leave valuables unattended.

This type of theft is common at Playa de Palma during the high season, where tourists are the main target. Authorities remind that the use of aluminium foil to block signals is a known practice among criminals, although not always effective. Local residents and visitors should be alert to groups acting suspiciously and report to the police immediately.

The two detainees will be brought before a judge in the coming days. Meanwhile, the affected tourists have already recovered their belongings, a happy ending to an experience that could have ruined their holiday.