Andorra Police Arrest Eastern European Thief in Luxury Goods Heist

Police in Andorra la Vella arrested one of two Eastern European men suspected of stealing sunglasses, designer clothing, and accessories from multiple shops along the Meritxell-Carlemany commercial axis on Saturday.

A security guard at a clothing store spotted suspicious behavior after staff raised concerns about missing items. The guard alerted officers and discreetly followed one suspect, who led him to an outdoor car park at a retail complex on Avinguda Tarragona. There, the man abandoned around half a dozen pairs of sunglasses under a parked vehicle before fleeing on foot.

Officers, already on scene, turned their attention to a second man nearby making suspicious movements. They detained him on suspicion of theft against property and discovered a rental car linked to the pair, packed with stolen goods from various stores. Recovered items included sunglasses, handbags, branded clothing, accessories, and a single perfume bottle—mostly high-end labels. Although valued at cost price for legal purposes, the haul exceeded €600, classifying the offence as a felony.

The suspects, part of a pattern of similar groups visiting Andorra for day-long theft sprees, had filled the vehicle over the course of Saturday. The pursued man evaded capture, but his actions exposed the car and its contents.

On Sunday afternoon, the detained man appeared before a judge under fast-track procedures. He received a firm sentence convertible to a lengthy expulsion order. Authorities recovered most, if not all, of the stolen merchandise, primarily from Meritxell Avenue shops. Police have not confirmed if additional accomplices were involved or released further details on the escapee.