Two Kosovar Women Arrested for €900 Shoplifting Spree in Andorra

Police in Andorra la Vella arrested two women, aged 30 and 34, of Kosovar origin and resident in France, on Sunday afternoon for stealing clothing, tobacco, and alcohol worth approximately €900 from three stores along the main commercial axis spanning Avinguda Meritxell and Escaldes-Engordany.

Security guards at a prominent multi-brand clothing retailer on Avinguda Meritxell identified one suspect, previously involved in a 2024 incident at the same location, behaving suspiciously. A guard followed her discreetly while notifying police, who deployed patrols. The women were detained almost simultaneously around 4pm in the private car park of a central hypermarket, next to their French-registered Renault Clio, which they allegedly used to store stolen items. Officers recovered some of the goods and found a small quantity of marijuana on one suspect.

The pair, known to Andorran police and with records of similar offences elsewhere, were taken with their vehicle to the station on Carrer Ciutat de Sabadell for an inventory ahead of complaints from the stores. They faced a judge on Monday under fast-track procedures, where any penalties would likely be replaced by expulsion orders of at least seven years.

Such professional shoplifting spikes during high tourist seasons in Andorra's busy retail areas, where vigilant security measures prove essential.

In related enforcement last week, border police intercepted six tourists with drugs: a 27-year-old man at Riu Runer bridge carrying 0.1g ecstasy and 0.59g cocaine; a 30-year-old with 30ml liquid cocaine, 2.62g heroin, 0.59g hashish, and 1.35g marijuana; two men aged 28 and 30 together with 6.5g tusi and 3.4g hashish; a 25-year-old with 0.28g cocaine; and a 35-year-old with 0.5g ecstasy at the French border. Police also arrested five men aged 20 to 35 for drink-driving—four tourists—with blood alcohol levels from 0.89 to 2.11.