Else Beekman
Renowned architect Santiago Calatrava was the victim of a violent street robbery on Wednesday evening in the heart of Valencia. The assailant made off with a luxury watch valued at approximately €100,000.
Luckily for the famous architect, the thief was swiftly apprehended thanks to the quick actions of a family member, an off-duty regional police officer, and agents of the Valencia Local Police.
The incident occurred around 8.00 pm on Calle Conde Trénor, near the city’s historic centre. Calatrava, who is spending a few days at his residence on Plaza de la Virgen, was waiting for a taxi with a relative when the thief struck. The attacker, described as a young man of foreign origin, approached Calatrava suddenly and snatched the watch from his wrist before attempting to flee on foot.
A family member immediately gave chase, joined by an off-duty officer from the Generalitat police who happened to witness the scene. The thief was eventually intercepted near the Pont de Fusta bridge by the officer and a patrol unit of the Valencia Local Police.
Upon searching the suspect, officers discovered the stolen watch hidden in one of his pockets. Officers arrested him on the spot, and he now faces charges of robbery with violence.
Signs of a planned theft
While in custody, the suspect received several phone calls from a Swiss number. That raised suspicions that the robbery may have been premeditated and based on insider knowledge of Calatrava’s movements. The architect also resides in Switzerland. Therefore, investigators are considering the possibility that external individuals or groups are involved in organising the crime.
Internationally acclaimed architect
Santiago Calatrava, originally from Benimàmet (Valencia), is one of Spain´s most influential architects and engineers. After studying at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, he earned a doctorate at the prestigious Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
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Over the years, he has designed a host of internationally recognised structures, including the Bach de Roda Bridge in Barcelona, the Alamillo Bridge and Cartuja Viaduct in Seville, and the Montjuïc Communications Tower, built for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences
But it’s in his home city where Calatrava’s work has left the most lasting impression. He’s the mind behind Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences, a striking, ultra-modern complex that completely changed the face of the city. It all started with the Hemisfèric in 1998 and wrapped up a decade later with the Assut de l’Or Bridge, which locals cheekily call “the ham-slicer”. That ten-year journey sealed Calatrava’s status as one of the boldest and most imaginative architects of his generation.
Over recent days, and according to newspaper Las Provincias, residents and visitors spotted the architect around Valencia, visiting landmarks such as the Central Market and the Hortensia Herrero Art Centre.
Police investigations continue to determine the full extent of the robbery and any potential accomplices involved.
Luxury watch robbery-gang dismantled
The Santiago Calatrava robbery echoes a recent successful police operation. Police in the Valencia and Alicante regions recently dismantled a so-called ‘love-hug’ gang—an itinerant group of young thieves who targeted victims by pretending to offer affectionate greetings. Their approach: one member would approach an unsuspecting individual, often an elderly person, and simulate a friendly hug or gesture. In the distraction, they would expertly remove a luxury watch or other valuable item.
Several high-end watches were recovered during the arrests, highlighting a growing trend in the region of opportunistic yet calculated thefts.
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