While millions of people watched the World Cup final, four hooded men raided a warehouse of the company Aqipa Iberia in the Pedrosa industrial estate of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and took computer equipment worth thousands of euros.
Last Sunday, while Spain was fighting for the world title against Argentina, a group of four individuals took advantage of the emptiness in the streets to commit a quick robbery at a warehouse in the Pedrosa estate, in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. The thieves, with their faces partially covered, accessed the interior of the company Aqipa Iberia, a wholesaler of electronic products, and loaded a stolen van with computer and electronic equipment.
A quick and planned hit
According to images from the security cameras, the assailants arrived at José Agustín Goytisolo street minutes after nine in the evening, just as the match was starting. They forced the outer fence and the door of the warehouse with surprising ease, as if they knew the place. In a matter of minutes, they loaded the loot into a white Ford Transit Connect that, according to investigation sources, had been stolen previously. The Mossos d'Esquadra from the L'Hospitalet police station have taken over the investigation and are trying to identify the four suspects.
The robbery occurred with a speed that suggests the thieves knew exactly what to take. In fact, the stolen material, mainly computer devices, is easy to sell on the black market. Police sources have confirmed that a complete inventory of the stolen items has not yet been carried out, but it is estimated that the value could be high. The company Aqipa Iberia, based in L'Hospitalet, has been cooperative with the investigation.
An increasingly common modus operandi
This type of raid on industrial warehouses to steal technology has become increasingly frequent in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. The Mossos d'Esquadra warn that criminals take advantage of large events, such as football matches or concerts, to act with impunity. In this case, the World Cup final concentrated millions of people in front of their televisions, leaving the streets practically deserted.
The method used is reminiscent of the "teloneros", groups specialized in stealing trucks in rest areas, although here the target was an industrial warehouse. The investigation will need to determine whether the thieves acted on their own or belong to an organized network. For now, the Mossos are analyzing the recordings and looking for witnesses who may have seen the white van in the vicinity.
For the residents of L'Hospitalet, this incident highlights the need to strengthen security in industrial estates, especially during high-profile events. The L'Hospitalet City Council has reminded that additional patrols can be requested from the Mossos, although prevention remains key. Local business owners are calling for more surveillance to prevent these robberies from happening again.
The case is in the hands of the Unitat d'Investigació of the L'Hospitalet police station, which hopes to identify those responsible in the coming days. Meanwhile, the affected company has already begun to strengthen its security measures, with new alarm systems and additional cameras. The investigation remains open and further arrests are not ruled out.
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