An armed assault on a mobile phone shop in Lucero has left the assistant with physical and emotional injuries. The thief made off with €7,500 in cash and merchandise.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Madrid neighbourhood of Lucero was the scene of a violent armed robbery at a phone shop located on Huerta de Castañeda street. At 15:40, a hooded young man burst into the premises, threatening the assistant and making off with a haul totalling €7,500 in cash and products.
The criminal not only stole but also bound the employee, identified as Md Mahbubur Rahman, using zip ties to tie him up before locking him in the shop's bathroom. The victim remained trapped for over fifteen minutes, suffering cuts and injuries while trying to free himself.
Despite the fear he felt, the assistant managed to partially free himself and attempted to escape. However, he encountered his assailant again, who overpowered him and locked him up once more. At that moment, two customers entered the shop, unaware of the imminent danger unfolding just behind the counter.
Rahman was not present during the assault; however, after learning the details of the attack, he decided to stay with his employee until midnight after the incident. "He was very scared," Rahman recounted about the young man's emotional state after leaving the hospital where he received medical attention for his injuries.
This robbery marks the fifth assault suffered by the shop since the beginning of the year, prompting the Bangladeshi merchant to file a complaint with the National Police. Authorities are currently searching for the thief based on security camera footage showing a young man wearing a black cap and dark glasses.
Insecurity has been a recurring theme for Rahman for years; this business had previously been a victim of another violent robbery carried out by an organised gang. "The insecurity in the neighbourhood is killing us," the merchant desperately exclaimed as he reflected on his current situation.
Despite having advanced systems such as internal and external cameras as well as alarms, Rahman feels these measures are insufficient against the frequency and precision with which criminals operate: "They take no more than two or three minutes to steal; they come in, destroy the shop, and leave."
Having lived in Spain for nearly twenty years with his wife, Rahman expresses concern not only for his business but also for the overall safety of the neighbourhood. He has even shared this feeling with family members abroad as they evaluate options to improve his work situation without jeopardising his physical safety.
As investigations continue to locate the thief, local merchants are increasingly alarmed by the rising wave of violent crimes affecting their businesses and personal integrity.
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