Five people have been arrested in two separate Policía Nacional operations in Mallorca following alleged thefts targeting elderly people in Port d'Andratx and around Bellver Castle in Palma.

The arrests took place on Wednesday, September 16, and Thursday, September 17, during surveillance operations carried out by the force's newly created Theft Unit.

Police say the first operation involved three people allegedly working together, while the second concerned a separate man and woman.

Three arrested in Port d'Andratx

The first operation took place on Wednesday in Port d'Andratx.

According to the Policía Nacional, officers from the Theft Unit spotted two people they recognised from previous interventions and began discreetly following them.

The vehicle travelled several kilometres before stopping in Port d'Andratx. Two women got out while a man remained in the driver's seat.

Police say officers continued following the women on foot and allegedly saw them position themselves behind an elderly person before taking money from the person's backpack.

€35 allegedly taken from a backpack

After witnessing the incident, officers approached the victim to establish whether anything was missing.

The person discovered that the backpack had been opened and that €35 was missing.

Police then continued monitoring the two women rather than immediately ending the operation.

A second alleged theft

Shortly afterwards, officers say the same two women approached an elderly couple.

According to the police account, they followed the man discreetly and allegedly took his wallet.

When the women attempted to return to their vehicle, police moved in before they could leave.

The second victim reported that the wallet contained identification documents and €250.

Three people accused of operating together

The Policía Nacional arrested the two women and the man who had remained in the vehicle.

Police are investigating the three for alleged theft and alleged membership of a criminal group.

According to investigators, their suspected method involved different roles, with one person keeping watch, another carrying out the alleged theft and the driver remaining available to assist with the escape.

Police also said subsequent checks found that two of the three had previous convictions for similar offences.

The arrests and allegations do not by themselves establish guilt.

Two more arrests near Bellver Castle

A separate operation took place the following day, Thursday, September 17, near Bellver Castle in Palma.

Officers from the Theft Unit identified a man and woman whom they had encountered during previous interventions and began monitoring them.

Police said the pair appeared to be looking for potential victims.

Mobile phone allegedly taken from elderly woman

According to investigators, the man then allegedly placed his hand inside the backpack of an elderly woman while the woman accompanying him attempted to conceal what was happening.

Officers intervened immediately.

The victim told police that her mobile phone was missing.

Police said the two suspects then tried to dispose of the phone by throwing it into nearby bushes. Officers said they witnessed the move and recovered the device, which the victim subsequently identified as hers.

The man and woman, both of Romanian origin, were arrested on suspicion of theft.

New Theft Unit created in May

The operations form part of a broader policing effort aimed at pickpocketing and opportunistic theft in busy areas of Mallorca.

The Policía Nacional created the Theft Unit in May within the Provincial Judicial Police Brigade.

The unit consists of around 10 officers and focuses particularly on areas where thefts increase, as well as groups believed to specialise in this type of crime.

More than 50 arrests since May

Police say the unit has made more than 50 arrests since its creation.

Most of those arrests were made in the act, according to the force.

Its work has focused on areas with high visitor numbers, including Playa de Palma, Bellver Castle and central Palma.

Other officers from the force's public-safety and district teams also take part in preventing and investigating crimes against property.

Tourism areas remain a focus

Bellver Castle is one of the locations where police say these types of thefts occur, particularly involving tourists.

The latest operation illustrates why officers have increased surveillance in heavily visited areas, where crowded conditions can create opportunities for pickpocketing and theft.

Port d'Andratx has also become part of the recent operation, showing that the policing effort is not limited to central Palma.

Police surveillance played a central role

In both of the latest operations, officers were already carrying out preventive surveillance before the arrests were made.

In Port d'Andratx, officers followed people they recognised from earlier interventions and continued observing them before making arrests.

At Bellver Castle, officers similarly monitored two people they had previously encountered and intervened after allegedly witnessing a theft.

The police account means the arrests followed direct observations by officers rather than being based solely on reports made after the incidents.

Separate operations, similar alleged method

The two cases involved different groups, but police say both centred on alleged thefts from elderly people while the victims were carrying personal belongings.

The first case involved three suspects whom investigators say operated with divided responsibilities.

The second involved two suspects allegedly working together, with police saying one carried out the alleged theft while the other attempted to obscure the action.

In both cases, the victims' missing property was identified after officers intervened.

What the police operation shows

The latest arrests highlight the focus being placed on thefts in Mallorca's busiest tourist locations.

For residents and visitors, the cases also underline the importance of keeping bags and personal belongings secure in crowded areas.

For the Policía Nacional, the creation of the specialist Theft Unit is intended to allow officers to identify suspected repeat offenders and target groups involved in organised pickpocketing activity.

The investigation continues

The five people arrested in the two operations will now face the relevant judicial process.

Three of them are being investigated not only for alleged theft but also for suspected membership of a criminal group, while the other two were arrested in connection with an alleged theft at Bellver Castle.

The police allegations will now be subject to the normal legal process.