Armed robbery of phone stores in Braga and Guimarães: more than 100 thousand euros of goods, two suspects arrested

Polícia Judiciária has detained two men thought to be linked to a series of armed robberies targeting mobile phone stores in Braga and Guimarães.

The two suspects, aged 35 and 24, were sent to prison pending trial after their first interrogation at the Guimarães Court.

According to the PJ investigation, the total value of the phones and money taken from the stores is over 100 thousand euros.

The robberies started in June and July

The investigation is based on events that took place in Braga and Guimarães between 11 June and 11 July 2026.

According to PJ, the 35-year-old main suspect acted alone in most of the incidents.

The second suspect, 24 years old, is considered to have participated in one of the last robberies.

He entered as a customer and showed a gun

The modus operandi cited by the investigation is quite similar.

It is stated that the main suspect entered the store as an ordinary customer, then showed the employee a firearm and forced him to hand over money and phones.

It is estimated that dozens of mobile phones were taken in this way and the total damage exceeded 100 thousand euros.

It was reported that one of the stores in Guimarães was targeted on two separate occasions.

There is also an accusation of "kidnapping" in the file

The 35-year-old suspect is being investigated not only for robberies, but also for the crime of sequestro, that is, deprivation of liberty of a person.

According to PJ:

three completed robberies,

attempted robbery,

one deprivation of liberty

is attributed.

The other suspect, 24 years old, is considered to have participated in a joint robbery.

It should be noted that these accusations do not yet mean a conviction.

Covilhã and Porto connection

The investigation may not be limited to Braga and Guimarães.

PJ considers that the 35-year-old suspect may also be connected to another robbery similar to the same method in Covilhã on September 7.

The suspect was later seen around another mobile phone store in Porto.

Police soon caught up with him in a vehicle parked near the store.

Fake license plate and unlicensed gun found

According to PJ, the vehicle had a fake license plate.

An illegal firearm with a diameter of 9 millimeters and other objects that could serve as evidence in the investigation were also seized during the search.

The second suspect, 24 years old, was detained in Monção, where he lived.

Objects that were considered to support the claim that he participated in one of the robberies were seized at his location.

Both suspects were arrested

The two people were brought to the first judicial interrogation at the Guimarães Courthouse.

The court decided to impose prisão preventiva, that is, detention measures, on both suspects.

This does not mean that the suspects were found guilty as a result of the trial.

The accusations and evidence in the file will be used in the future investigation and possible criminal case. will be evaluated.

Why is it important?

The case is different from an ordinary shop theft.

The allegation that weapons were used, threats to employees, similar methods being used in more than one city and the property value exceeding 100 thousand euros make the incident more serious in terms of the possibility of organized or serial crime.

It will also be followed whether the investigation will expand with other cases due to connections to Covilhã and Porto.

Resources

Terras do Homem — Pedro Antunes Pereira, 12 September 2026

https://terrasdohomem.pt/2026/09/12/pj-detem-suspeitos-de-assaltos-a-lojas-de-telemoveis-em-guimaraes-e-braga/

O MINHO — Ivo Borges, 11 September 2026

https://ominho.pt/pj-detem-dupla-suspeita-de-assaltos-armados-a-lojas-de-telemoveis-em-braga-e-guimaraes/