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Date Published: 21/10/2021
ARCHIVED - Gang of professional squatters arrested in Alicante
The career criminals allegedly broke into homes across Alicante province, squatting in them briefly before renting them out to low-income families
Since the start of the Covid pandemic and consequent travel and movement restrictions, the problem of squatters taking over unoccupied properties has increased, with 'okupas', as they are known in Spanish, exploiting both the situation and the legal system.
Alicante is no exception, and police have this week arrested seven alleged members of a gang of professional squatters accused of breaking into several vacant properties in San Vicente del Raspeig, San Juan and Mutxamel, illegally occupying them for a short period before renting them out to low-income families for up to 3,000 euros.
In addition to squatting, the career criminals allegedly stole homeowners' identities to defraud telephone companies and banks, and have been charged with being members of a criminal organisation, burglary, breaking and entering, illegal occupation of real estate and fraud.
The National Police in Alicante initiated an investigation at the beginning of September, following an increase in reports of squatters having taken over empty and second homes in San Juan.
Officers soon began to suspect a criminal organisation was behind the rise, and had "clear and convincing" indications a "squatted property" in the Virgen del Remedio neighbourhood had been rented out to a "family with low resources".
After making contact with the legitimate owner, the police proceeded to evict the family and the investigation continued.
It was determined that there were at least five other homes nearby which had also been broken into and illegally occupied by the suspects, specifically in Playa de San Juan and the Juan XXIII neighbourhoods, where the alleged ringleader of the scheme, a convicted thief and fraudster, was arrested.
In total, five men and two women, of Spanish, Cuban, Bulgarian, and Algerian origin, all of whom have previous convictions, were arrested and will appear at Alicante Magistrates' Court.
Image: Policía Nacional
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