Pretrial detention without bail for two repeat offenders in Salt

At Sánchez Ruiz Abogados we acted as the private prosecution (acusación particular) in a case that clearly shows the weight of this role: Investigating Court No. 1 of Girona has ordered incommunicado pretrial detention without bail for two repeat-offender thieves arrested after a robbery with force in Salt. The measure was granted at the request of the Public Prosecutor and our firm, which represents the victim, after the court found a risk of reoffending that was "more than evident".

This is a decision at the investigation stage — detention rulings can be appealed — but it sets a decisive starting point for the proceedings. And it shows why, when you are the victim of a crime, joining the case with your own lawyer changes things.

Source: Diari de Girona — "Presó sense fiança per a dos lladres multireincidents detinguts després de robar eines d'una furgoneta a Salt", 13 July 2026

The case: tool theft at Parc de la Massana

In the early hours of 2 July 2026, three people broke the window of a van parked at Parc de la Massana in Salt and began taking the work tools inside. The owner caught them in the act and managed to hold one of them until the Mossos d'Esquadra arrived. The other two fled, but the investigation identified them thanks to the victim's description and security camera footage.

Those two thieves who had fled turned out to be well known to the police, with a long history of arrests. The victim, whom we represent, identified them "without any doubt" in both the photographic identification and the formal identity parade.

Our work: establishing the risk of reoffending

Representing the victim as the private prosecution, our firm requested the detention of both suspects, in line with the Public Prosecutor. Pretrial detention is not automatic: Article 503 of the Criminal Procedure Act requires certain conditions to be met and the judge to give reasons for the decision.

The core of the argument was the risk of reoffending. Both men's records were placed before the court:

• For one of the accused: a sentence in the enforcement phase for robbery with violence and intimidation, two pending cases for the same offence and numerous prior police records.
• For the other: two sentences in the enforcement phase for robbery with force, several pending cases — one of them for robbery with violence — and also numerous previous arrests.

Faced with that record, Investigating Court No. 1 of Girona granted the request for detention, in line with the position held by the Public Prosecutor and by this private prosecution: it concluded that the risk of reoffending was "more than evident" and ordered incommunicado pretrial detention without bail, also finding a risk of flight and a need to protect the victims. Detention rulings can be appealed.

What the private prosecution is and why it is decisive

In the Spanish criminal process, the private prosecution (acusación particular) allows the victim of a crime to join the case with their own lawyer, acting as a prosecuting party alongside the Public Prosecutor. It is not a mere formality. Acting in this role, a firm can:

• Propose and submit its own evidence (witnesses, reports, images)
• Request precautionary measures, such as the pretrial detention of the accused — exactly what was achieved here
• File its own indictment, with legal classification and a specific sentencing request
• Appeal decisions the public prosecutor does not appeal
• Claim civil liability: compensation for the damage suffered by the victim

The practical difference is significant. The public prosecutor defends the general public interest and handles hundreds of cases at once. The private prosecution defends one specific victim, with full dedication to their case.

Robbery with force: what it is and what penalties it carries

The offence under investigation is robbery with force (Articles 237 et seq. of the Criminal Code): taking another's property by using force to access the place where it is kept — in this case, by breaking the van window.

Penalties increase considerably where there is repeat offending: prior convictions for offences of the same nature allow the aggravating factor of recidivism (Art. 22.8 CP) to be applied, and in cases of qualified recidivism the penalty can even be raised by one degree.

Are you the victim of a theft in Girona? Here is what you can do

If you have suffered a theft — from your vehicle, your home, your business — these are the steps that make the difference:

Report it as soon as possible to the Mossos d'Esquadra, providing every possible detail (description, time, items taken, nearby cameras).

Preserve the evidence: security footage, witnesses, receipts for what was taken.

Join as a private prosecution: do not leave all the initiative to the public prosecutor. With your own lawyer, your case receives dedicated attention and you can request measures that protect your interests.

Claim civil liability: in addition to the sentence, you are entitled to compensation for the damage and losses suffered.

This case shows that a well-represented victim is not a spectator to the process: they are an active party who can decisively influence the outcome. At Sánchez Ruiz Abogados we act both in criminal defence and as private prosecution on behalf of victims. If you have been the victim of a crime in Girona and want to know your options, we can review your case.