Andorra Police Arrest Two Spanish Suspects in Aixirivall Car Theft After Crash Chase

Police in Andorra have detained two non-resident men, aged 19 and 24, both from Spain's Costa Brava region, following a vehicle theft in Aixirivall on Monday evening. The suspects, who were hooded at the time, managed to take a backpack containing a laptop and a jacket—valued at over €2,000—before fleeing. The items were later recovered by officers.

The incident unfolded around 6:15pm when the vehicle owner caught the group rummaging inside his car, parked near the Sant Antoni sheepfold. Startled, the three men sped off in a Spanish-plated car but crashed shortly afterward. The owner and his son gave chase, while an off-duty officer nearby restrained one suspect until a patrol arrived. The other two fled on foot, prompting a major police operation involving the Citizen Security Unit, Road Safety Unit, Technical Intervention Unit, a specialist tracking dog team, and aerial drone support.

The second suspect was apprehended soon after at the start of the Fontaneda road, near the junction with Sant Julià's new road. A third man remains at large, with the investigation ongoing to locate him and check for links to other thefts in the country. At least one detainee has prior convictions for similar offences in neighbouring areas. Surveillance footage confirms their involvement, and both have been remanded in custody at La Comella prison by court order—a firm sentence of a few months' imprisonment followed by multi-year expulsion, seen as a deterrent amid public security concerns. The pair reportedly blame the fugitive for masterminding the theft.

In separate arrests since Monday, police detained a 29-year-old non-resident in Escaldes-Engordany for forging a work experience certificate to secure a residence and work permit, violating legal traffic security rules. Early Tuesday, a 47-year-old tourist was arrested in Pas de la Casa after insulting and threatening officers with death during a routine patrol, attempting to assault them, and resisting detention. He faces charges related to offences against honour, liberty, and public function.