First effects of police reinforcements at El Prat airport: thefts are down
January and February closed with fewer thefts than the same period last year
BarcelonaThe situation at El Prat airport at the end of last year was unsustainable. During the month of September alone, almost a thousand crimes against property were recorded, and the vast majority (around 900) were thefts from passengers. We are talking about more than one theft every hour. But the balance of recent years was also very negative: as the ARA advanced, in a decade, thefts in the infrastructure had multiplied by ten. In September 2024 alone, twice as many were recorded as in the whole of 2013, and this frenetic pace of crime caused the Mossos to place the airport as one of their priorities. In recent months, a reinforcement of personnel has been implemented, also advanced by this newspaper And now, this action is beginning to be reflected in the data.
At the end of last year, the number of Mossos officers assigned solely to the airport did not reach 200 agents. This figure does not take into account the agents of other specialties who also have their headquarters in El Prat, such as public order officers or air accident specialists. In any case, right now the number of agents assigned solely to El Prat already amounts to 250, according to what the ARA has been able to find out. However, this figure should still grow considerably in the coming months, especially because the Mossos will assume, foreseeably, all competencies in the infrastructure.
Before this reinforcement, sources familiar with the situation at the airport say that there was normally a patrol (usually a pair of two officers on foot) in each terminal. According to the same sources, it was this laxity that caused repeat thieves who focused their efforts on the centre of Barcelona to opt for the airport, where the victims are often carrying valuables and where there was not as much police presence. The most critical moment was last year, with more than one theft every hour. Now, this reinforcement of personnel has allowed there to be between three and four patrols in each terminal, and sometimes there are up to five in one of the two terminals. And everything is starting to bear fruit.
Four thefts a day
Both this month of February and January, the balance compared to the same period last year has been positive. That is, fewer thefts have been recorded. The current rate, according to informed sources, is four or five thefts a day. The Mossos are focusing on prevention: that is, trying to identify repeat thieves before they enter the airport. The work of viewing security cameras is also key, which allows for a faster reaction. Likewise, preventive identifications and arrests have also increased.
However, the same sources indicate that the rate of theft remains high, and that many repeat offenders continue to go to El Prat every day to try to steal. The hottest spots are the arrivals area and also the check-in area. In addition, there are more and more thieves who buy a cheap flight to access the restricted area and steal, for example, one of the suitcases that come out through the check-in belts.
Training
Sources from the Mossos say that this improvement in police work is also a demonstration that the Catalan police force can take on all the responsibilities of the air infrastructure. As announced by the Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon, a few weeks ago, it is planned that the Mossos will take on all responsibilities at the airport in September.
One of the most immediate changes will be that the Catalan police will be the competent body in the prevention and investigation of crimes that occur within the restricted zone, where only people who are about to take a flight can access. Now, the Mossos can only access them in exceptional situations.
In fact, according to what the ARA has been able to find out, in order to assume these responsibilities and access within the restricted zone (which is also called air zone) the police must undergo training. And the Mossos assigned to the airport have already done so, anticipating the transfer of powers in a few months. However, what is still not clear is whether with the changes in powers the Catalan police will be able to go down to the runway area, which would require new training that the Mossos have not yet done.
Although most crimes are committed in the public area of the airport, the assumption of the responsibility for the restricted area must also be accompanied (and this has been promised by the Mossos leadership) by a new increase in personnel at the airport.