Madrid, April 3, 2026 – In the early hours of Thursday, a luxury Valentino store, situated at number 16 on Ortega y Gasset street in Madrid’s prestigious ‘Golden Mile’, became the target of a violent smash-and-grab robbery. This incident mirrors a previous theft at the same location less than two years ago, utilizing an almost identical method.
Repeat Offense: A Familiar Scenario
The store had previously experienced a similar crime on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 6:30 AM. On that occasion, three hooded individuals crashed an SUV into the storefront, looted the interior, and fled in another vehicle. The scene that unfolded this Thursday morning was strikingly similar.
At approximately 5:30 AM, while the Salamanca neighborhood was still asleep, a group of thieves rammed a high-powered car into the security shutter of the establishment. The resulting opening allowed them to access the interior and quickly load as much merchandise as possible within minutes. To hinder surveillance and erase forensic traces, the perpetrators discharged a fire extinguisher inside, creating a dense cloud of white powder that obscured security cameras and complicated the work of investigators. Outside, a second getaway vehicle waited with its engine running to facilitate their escape.
Police Response and Investigation
National Police patrols promptly arrived at the scene. Their initial observations included a large cloud of extinguisher dust emanating from the store and the severely damaged metallic security curtain. An abandoned car was found nearby.
A witness who observed the scene from the street informed authorities how the assailants, after exiting the store laden with stolen goods, made their escape. Police sources indicated that both vehicles involved in the incident – the one used to ram the store and the getaway car – had been reported stolen in March.
The abandoned car in front of Valentino has since been removed and transported to the Municipal Vehicle Depot, where investigators are examining it for any clues that could lead to the identification of its occupants. The Provincial Judicial Police Brigade has taken charge of the investigation. As of now, the exact value and type of stolen merchandise remain unknown, and no arrests have been made.
Previous Robbery: Significant Losses
The previous smash-and-grab robbery suffered by the store in October 2024 resulted in substantial losses. According to press reports from that time, a company representative initially estimated the value of the stolen items to exceed 100,000 euros, primarily due to high-value articles and handbags, each costing over 3,000 euros. In that incident, the thieves used the ramp of the General Council of the ONCE to drive onto the pavement and ram the SUV into the store’s entrance.
This repeated targeting of a high-end establishment in a prime location underscores ongoing concerns regarding security in Madrid’s luxury retail district. Authorities are intensifying efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent future occurrences of such brazen crimes.
The investigation is ongoing, with police actively pursuing leads and reviewing available evidence to bring those responsible to justice.
Source: https://www.elmundo.es/madrid/2026/04/02/69ce857c21efa0340b8b457b.html
