Emaya Employee Arrested in Palma: Material Sold, Five-Figure Damage

Arrest in Palma: Suspected Systematic Sale of City Property

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In Palma, the National Police arrested an employee of the city's waste management company Emaya in the morning. Investigators accuse the man of stealing metal parts from city storage facilities over several months and selling them to recycling yards and collection points. The authorities estimate the damage at more than €15,000.

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What exactly is missing?

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According to investigators, the affected items are mainly bollard-like steel parts, aluminum rods and traffic signs — items normally fixed in the city's supply and streetscape. Colleagues reportedly noticed, per internal notes, that material disappeared from several depots. It was conspicuous, they say, that similar parts were consistently missing and the removals occurred over an extended period.

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How did the police proceed?

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The trail apparently led to several recycling collection points on Mallorca. There investigators checked receipts, weighing notes, and camera footage. In the end, according to the National Police, there was sufficient suspicion to arrest the employee. He was charged with repeated theft.

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Reactions at Emaya and in the neighborhood

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At Emaya, internal cleanup is planned: there will be an audit of inventories and access. Employees we met on the street today were surprised: "You don't expect someone from your own company to do such a thing," said a morning-shift worker as he locked the hall doors late in the morning.

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What does this mean for the city?

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For the town hall and citizens, it remains a trust issue. City property disappears, and in the end taxpayers pay the price — directly or indirectly. Authorities emphasize that cooperation with the police was important and that internal controls will now be strengthened.

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The investigations continue: Besides the question of who bought the materials, the internal organization of storage at Emaya is under review. Juridically, the accused faces proceedings, and the city is considering possible civil steps to remedy the damage.

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In Palma's neighborhoods the topic will stay a talking point — at the bus stop, in the office, and at the weekly market. Some hope the case serves as a wake-up call: better inventory controls, clear procedures for field staff, and more transparency. Others are simply disappointed that this happened at a company that should take care of our clean streets.