Spanish police catch mafia gang stealing luxury watches on Ibiza

Spanish police said they had broken up a gang run by Italy's Camorra crime group that stole luxury watches on Spain's holiday island of Ibiza.

Police arrested two leaders of the Camorra, a mafia network based in the Naples area, as well as three other Italians who were experts in stealing watches and "evasive driving", police said on Tuesday.

Two suspects, a man and a woman, rented an apartment in the most upmarket area of Ibiza Town, the island's capital, and spent time in its port and other luxury areas to find victims.

"Once they selected their target and had verified which type of watch they owned and if it could be sold in Italy, the stalking phase began," the police said.

"They observed what time the victim arrived and left, what their main routine was, to determine the best moment to steal the watch."

The gang, which arrived on the Mediterranean island in May, targeted watches that cost at least €10,000 (HK$100,000), which they then sent to Italy.