Thefts rise sharply in Barcelona, although there are fewer crimes than last year

BarcelonaBetween January and June of this year, Barcelona has been the scene of 74,350 crimes and 17,359 arrests. This is 11.2% fewer crimes and a 6.7% reduction in arrests compared to the same dates last year. Therefore, crimes are generally decreasing and are sinking to the level of a decade ago, but nevertheless, the data from the latest barometer place crime as the second concern for Barcelona residents, only behind housing. This is the main conclusion of the latest Barcelona Security Board, which this morning made public the data on conflict in the Catalan capital.

The figures have served the municipal government of Jaume Collboni to defend itself, after months in which security in the city has been questioned by several shootings in the middle of the street, many of them linked to criminal organizations and drug trafficking. "Facing the noise, today we come to present results," Collboni snapped in the press conference after the Security Board. The mayor assured that the 11.2% drop in crimes is "historic" and "the strongest in 10 years". Among all types of crimes, moreover, Collboni and the Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon, said that the 21% drop in thefts in Barcelona is "spectacular".

More robberies with force

If the different types of crimes are analyzed, the data reveals nuances. The majority of criminal offenses, almost 62,000 cases, are against property (83.4% of the total). Of these, almost half are thefts (35,092 cases), which, despite having decreased by 21%, continue to be the most widespread crime in the Catalan capital. Following the trend of recent reports, scams (-5%) and property damage offenses (-2.7%) are also falling.

On the other hand, burglaries are increasing by 14.1%, especially inside vehicles, in establishments, and on the street. Robberies with violence or intimidation remain practically the same, with a slight decrease of 0.7% compared to last year. Among the most stolen items with violence or intimidation are mobile phones, necklaces, and handbags or wallets.

And despite the general downward trend of all crimes, those against persons are also resisting a decrease: in the first half of 2026, practically the same number have been recorded, with a decrease of only 0.3%. Homicides, for example, have gone from 5 to 9, and assault offenses – which are the vast majority within this category – have decreased by 0.6%, to 2,425 cases in the first six months of the year. Among those showing the most significant decrease are sexual assault offenses (-9.4%) and mistreatment (-5.5%). Threats also fall by 5.4% and coercion by 2.4%. Conversely, hate crimes have increased from 98 to 161 cases this year.

For Collboni and Parlon, the overall analysis of the data confirms the effective functioning of security measures and operational plans against recidivism. "The data confirms that the decisions we have made with the Generalitat, with Interior, with the police forces, the judiciary, and the Public Prosecutor's Office are yielding results," the mayor boasted. "There is a change in trend," he assured. "We believe that the strategy of greater coordination, more police officers, and the Kampai plans – police operations against repeat offending – have allowed us to consolidate this reduction," continued councilor Parlon. In this regard, they highlighted that offenses related to repeat offending have decreased by almost 16%.

The Barcelona Victimization Survey – which attempts to assess how many Barcelonians have been victims of bad experiences of this type – also confirms that there is an improvement in the perception of criminal offenses in the city.

About the shootings: "We don't want these riffraffin Barcelona"

Collboni has also taken advantage of the press conference after the Security Board to position himself on the recent shootings in the street that have shaken Barcelona in recent months. "Penalties for firearm possession must be increased to be stronger against this type of violence, which we call inter-criminal violence, because it is between criminal organizations," he explained. "We do not want these scoundrels in our city; we do not want to be a battlefield for organized gangs involved in drug trafficking," the mayor continued.

Collboni has continued to demand "forcefulness" from the ministry and the department, to whom he has also requested that they provide the tools "that the security forces are asking for." For her part, councilor Parlon has stated that they have already requested reforms and aggravating factors for firearm possession. "Regarding homicides by criminal gangs, we are about to reach the same figures as last year: we have 7 and last year we had 8. Every effort is insufficient, because although it is a statistically low crime, it is very frightening," she admitted.

Neighbor disputes: more complaints for drinking alcohol in the street

During the first six months of the year, the Guàrdia Urbana (Urban Guard) has managed more than 51,000 administrative incidents received through the 112 emergency telephone number. The most common types have been those related to disturbances in public spaces, representing 31% of the total.

Among the most frequent interventions are disturbances caused by people in public spaces, with 11,309 incidents managed; disturbances due to noise or music, with 10,255 actions, and disturbances arising from noise from establishments, with 4,233 incidents. Also noteworthy are actions related to construction (2,770), injured animals in public spaces (2,460), violations of municipal ordinances (2,384), abandoned or lost animals (1,918), and recovery of lost items (1,249).

Regarding certain phenomena affecting coexistence, interventions related to alcohol consumption in public spaces have increased by 19.4%, and those related to street vending have grown by 14% compared to the same period last year.

The Security Board was chaired by the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Interior and Public Security, Núria Parlon; the Deputy Mayor for Prevention, Security, Coexistence, and Internal Affairs, Albert Batlle; the Director General of the Police, Josep Lluís Trapero; and the Deputy Government Delegate in Barcelona, Mari Carmen García-Calvillo. Also present were the commanders of the police forces and emergency services working in the city, as well as representatives from the judiciary and the Public Prosecutor's Office.