Iona Napier
Photo: Olive Press Spain
EXPATS have slammed local police for failing to deal with a clear theft of their water by squatters on the Costa del Sol.
Brits John and Claudia Stevens were told there was nothing Casares police could do when they discovered that two squatted neighbouring homes were connected to their supply.
The couple in their 60s alerted police after their bills sky-rocketed from around €20 per quarter to €469 in July and €251 in November.
It emerged that two households in Paraiso de la Bahia had cleverly plugged into their supply and plastered it back over.
However, Casares police allegedly refused to investigate, claiming they weren’t ‘qualified to distinguish pipes’.
“I am upset that the squatters were able to so easily move in and do this and why the police have not arrested them,” said Mr Stevens, who has owned the holiday home for 14 years.
Despite the community installing seven padlocks to protect the valves, the squatters – who drive expensive cars – work out new ways to break into the supply.
“They know exactly what they’re doing and since the police are not interested, we will have to sort this crime out ourselves,” community president Trevor Walkingshaw, 56, told the Olive Press.
When you do everything by the book they penalise you for it, whilst these sorts of illegal acts go unpunished. Spain in a nutshell. Don’t come here if you want fair play in day-to-day life.
Fred,
I’ve been there twice in Galicia and Andalucia, in each case I could’nt believe the corruption but this is what happens when foreign governments can’t be bothered to stand up for their citizens, unless they happen to be VIPs. The Spanish realised this years ago, which explains their actions – the main reason we left Spain.