Security in Barcelona: thefts haven't been this low since 2015
The number of repeat offenders deported from the country has increased by almost 40%.
BarcelonaThe head of the latest Security Boards in BarcelonaOn the day when the country's police authorities take stock of how the year has gone in the Catalan capital, a pattern seems to be repeating itself: property crimes, those most frequent offenses that can affect everyone, continue to decline. There are approximately 239 thefts every day in Barcelona; ten every hour, according to 2025 data. In 2024, there were eleven every hour, about 258 per day. That's a lot, but the city hasn't seen that number of thefts since 2015. In total, 169,000 crimes were committed last year, up to 10,000 fewer than the previous year. This figure hadn't been seen for a decade either.
"This is two consecutive years of reduction. We don't want to be triumphalist. We must continue this fight. The measures are working, but it's not enough," stated the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni. The Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) and the Guardia Urbana (Barcelona's municipal police) maintain that the crime statistics for 2025 are very similar to those of 2015. However, they also acknowledge that the city is not the same. For starters, there are nearly 130,000 more residents and an additional two million visitors. And the concerns of Barcelona residents have also shifted: in 2015, security was the sixth biggest concern for the inhabitants of the Catalan capital, and now it is the second, only behind housing.
Property crimes are largely to blame, as they are highly visible. Thefts, for example, occur mainly in establishments (40%), on the street (36.4%), and on public transport (20%). Robberies with violence and intimidation—the vast majority of which are purse snatchings (70%) that end without injury (in 61% of cases)—also predominantly take place on the street (80.9%). And it should be noted that eight out of ten crimes in the city are property crimes.
The 2025 figures follow the trend of recent years: all property crimes are down. Overall, the decrease is 7%, with a notable 19.8% drop in burglaries, often linked to robberies in homes or businesses. However, robberies with violence remain high, which is a concern for the police. "In Barcelona, and to a lesser extent in Catalonia, those crimes that have the greatest impact on citizens are decreasing," stated the Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon.
More frequent offenders and more deportations
Property crimes are most closely linked to the phenomenon of repeat offenders, that is, thieves who make a living by stealing. According to the report, in 2025 there were 470 active repeat offenders. These individuals were arrested 4,001 times and committed 9,726 crimes, primarily thefts and robberies with violence or intimidation. The five most persistent active offenders accumulated 197 arrests in just one year. The Mossos d'Esquadra commissioner in Barcelona, Montserrat Estruch, indicated that four of these five most active thieves are currently in prison. Last year the Mossos d'Esquadra created the Kanpai plan, The operation, which has deployed eight units across the metropolitan area, essentially aims to saturate the streets with a large number of officers during certain hours. So far, 251 arrests have been made and 118 people are under criminal investigation.
However, the impact of repeat offenders on Barcelona's crime scene remains significant. In 2024, 452 repeat offenders were identified who met these criteria and committed 9,114 crimes. That is, an average of 20.16 crimes per repeat offender. By 2025, this number had risen to 470, who committed 9,726 crimes. That is, 20.69 crimes per person. In other words, the repeat offenders of 2025 committed more crimes and had a slightly greater impact: while in 2024 they committed 5.06% of the city's crimes, this year they were involved in 5.57%. In his remarks, Collboni expressed his gratitude for the approval of the new law against repeat offenders
The Spanish government's delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, also participated in the meeting and presented a key statistic: deportations of repeat offenders from Spain have increased from 175 in 2024 to 243 in 2025. This represents a 38.9% increase. "The majority of the foreign population comes to contribute and work, but there is a minority that does not. For these people, there are two options: either imprisonment or deportation," he stated during the meeting.
More drugs and more police activity
One statistic that continues to rise is that of crimes against public health, those directly related to drug trafficking and consumption. In 2025, these crimes increased by 26.8%. However, the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan Police) and the Guardia Urbana (Barcelona's Municipal Police) attribute this to an increase in police activity, which has also led to a rise in crime statistics. During 2025, 165 drug sales points—some known as "narcopises" (drug dens)—were shut down, 210 people were arrested, and 57 properties were recovered. The Mossos also link this increase in police activity to the 40.6% decrease in robberies of businesses, as it is common for people to commit robberies to buy drugs, especially in the Ciutat Vella (Old City) area.
Sexual assaults
Another statistic that continues its slight upward trend is that of sexual assaults, which have increased by 4% and, overall, represent 0.7% of all crimes. Specifically, what has increased are the number of reports filed, so it is difficult to say whether more assaults have actually occurred, as this is not a crime that is usually reported immediately; there can be a delay of several months. Last year, the police assisted 4,679 victims, 14% fewer than in 2014. However, protection orders have increased by 2% (2,784) and victim follow-up has increased by 4% (3,326).
Regarding gender-based violence—that perpetrated by a partner or ex-partner—offenses decreased by 4.8%. Crimes of threats (-20.3%) and crimes of abuse or habitual violence in the home (-6.8%) also decreased. Conversely, crimes of violating a restraining order increased by 3%.
Both Parlon and Collboni celebrated the fact that police coordination is now operational. In fact, the mayor announced that a new framework agreement between the City Council and the regional government, which has not been renewed since 2005, is about to be finalized. The two political leaders also They mourned the death of a woman in Barcelona due to the windstorm.