Overall Crime Rate Skyrockets, Leading the Region in Growth
According to the latest data from Spain’s Ministry of the Interior, the city of Alcorcón in the Community of Madrid recorded a total of 2,215 criminal offenses in the first three months of 2026, an increase of 514 cases compared to the same period last year, marking a staggering 30.2% surge.
This growth rate stands in stark contrast to the situation in the Community of Madrid as a whole, where the crime rate rose by only 2.3% during the same period. This means Alcorcón’s crime growth is approximately 13 times the regional average, making it the city with the highest number of criminal cases and the largest increase among municipalities in the Community of Madrid with over 20,000 inhabitants. Data shows that the 514 new cases in the city account for 22.7% of the total increase in crime across the entire region.
Surge in Cybercrime: Scam Cases Double
The primary driver behind Alcorcón’s sharp rise in crime statistics is cybercrime. In the first quarter of 2026, cybercrime cases in the city jumped from 288 in the same period last year to 504, a 75% increase. Meanwhile, cybercrime across the entire Community of Madrid actually saw a slight decrease of 0.5%.
Within the category of cybercrime, the growth in online scams is particularly alarming. The number of cases soared from 215 to 453, a staggering 110.7% increase, effectively doubling in one year. This indicates that crime in the digital sphere has become the most severe challenge to public safety in the city.
Conventional Crime Also on the Rise
In addition to online offenses, Alcorcón’s conventional crime has not been spared. Data shows that conventional criminal cases increased from 1,413 to 1,711, a year-on-year growth of 21.1%, also far exceeding the Community of Madrid’s average increase of 3%.
Specifically, several key crime categories saw significant increases:
- Home Burglaries: Increased from 13 to 37 cases, a 184.6% rise.
- Burglaries with Force in Dwellings and Establishments: A 129.3% increase.
- Robberies with Violence and Intimidation: Up by 58.3%.
- Serious Assaults and Brawls: A rise of 83.3%.
It is worth noting that the base number for home burglaries in 2025 was low. Compared to the 30 cases in the same period of 2024, the 37 cases in 2026 represent a 23.3% increase, indicating a longer-term growth trend.
Serious Violent Crimes Contained, but Safety Margin Narrows
Despite the alarming overall crime data, Alcorcón has maintained relative stability in the most serious categories of violent crime. In the last three consecutive comparison periods (first quarters of 2024, 2025, and 2026), the city has recorded zero consummated homicides and kidnappings. Attempted homicides remained at one case, and sexual assaults held steady at nine cases.
However, this seemingly “safe” facade conceals a narrowing safety margin. In February 2026, Mayor Candelaria Testa had described the city as one of the “ten safest cities” in the region, with a crime rate 14 percentage points below the regional average. But recent estimates show that Alcorcón’s crime rate per thousand inhabitants is now approximately 43.8, and the gap with the regional average of 55.4 has shrunk to just 11.6 percentage points.
Political Controversy and Calls for More Police
This “contradictory” set of data quickly triggered a political reaction. The People’s Party (PP) of the Community of Madrid publicly criticized the situation, stating that public safety in Alcorcón is “objectively deteriorating,” highlighting the increase in conventional crimes like home burglaries and violent robberies. The party attributed the problem to inadequate police staffing by the central government, accusing it of a failure in “personnel, prevention, and efficiency.”
In response, the People’s Party has formally requested the central government to assign at least 1,500 more National Police and Civil Guard officers to the Community of Madrid to address the growing security challenges.
