An off-duty Mossos d'Esquadra officer witnessed the attempted theft shortly after 12 noon, when the woman lunged at the victim to rip off a ring. Thanks to the officer's intervention, the jewel fell to the ground, and the woman quickly fled towards a vehicle heading towards Castellserà.
The officer began pursuit while alerting the central command. Once in Castellserà, the driver confronted the officer, despite the identification, allowing the woman to escape on foot through the town streets. The man continued his reckless flight in the vehicle until he encountered a police checkpoint involving two patrols at the entrance to the A-2 motorway.
After being stopped and identified, officers confirmed the man had a history of theft. During the vehicle search, a gold chain and a cross were found hidden in the roof upholstery. The man was arrested for attempted theft, reckless driving, resistance, and serious disobedience to authority.
The thieves use the 'mimosa' method, traveling from the metropolitan area to rural towns to steal jewelry and valuables from elderly people walking alone.
Simultaneously, the woman was located shortly after by an unmarked patrol, hiding in the services of the pensioners' home in Castellserà, and was also arrested. The woman has about fifty antecedents, mostly for theft, twenty of which were committed last year.
The two detainees specialize in thefts, often using the method known as the 'mimosa' (mimosa hug), which involves gaining the trust of elderly people and stealing valuables through a hug or struggle. The detainees were brought before the duty investigating court in Lleida yesterday.
