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What started as a tranquil summer for a gated Costa Blanca community has become a nightmare from which its cosmopolitan citizens cannot awaken.
The tranquility of the Lo Crispin urbanisation in Algorfa, Alicante, was shattered when a band of squatters smashed their way into a vacant villa in late June – and immediately began terrorising neighbours who dared to intervene.
The situation escalated quickly when homeowners who were angry gathered in order to repair the external wall which had been destroyed.
Olive Press saw videos of the standoff.
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Residents lead by Daniel Elizalde of the community are seen rebuilding the exterior wall which intruders had used to gain entry.
A pregnant woman with a baby in her arms comes out into the street and hurls abuse while her accomplices on the opposite side of the wall attempt to tear down the breeze block as quickly as residents can put them up.
The confrontation quickly becomes ugly.
In the chaos, Elizalde’s wife was shoved against a wall and received a nasty gash across her hand – an injury that required stitches and days off work.
You’re hurting our feelings! On camera, residents yell out “call the cops!””, only for the squatters to shout back that they have a ‘pregnant women and children’ in their midst.
One squatter, described by witnesses as ‘pure evil’, made a throat-slitting gesture to Elizalde and teven hreatened to kill the pets of those trying to rebuild the wall.
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According to real estate agent Gillian Kingham, he later vowed to ‘run Daniel over’ if he saw him in the street.
The entire confrontation was held in front of Guardia Civil officers who only asked to see the squatters ID.
“The Guardia Civil won’t do anything until someone gets really hurt – or worse,” Kingham said.
“I was there when the wall was torn down, and I was absolutely shocked at the situation and the lack of action from authorities,” added she.
The mayor is a bit wishy-washy, like a wet leaf of lettuce. When we approached him, he refused to tell us.
Kingham added, “The person making threats is not the one living in the home.”
“He is the part of the gang that finds the houses to occupy – he leaves them open for the others to move in.
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The squatters at a confrontation regarding the building of a wall.
“They all have their roles – he is the awful one that threatens people who try to fight back, while the pregnant ones are there to make sure they can’t be legally removed.”
Neighbours claim that the squatters have showed them a rental contract purporting to state that they have paid €1,000 to stay in the property – ‘but the Guardia Civil assured us that this contract is fake.’
It is believed that the money is paid to an organised gang that operates in the area, finding empty homes for groups and families to enter using ‘fake contracts and charging illegal rents.’
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One neighbour told local radio that “they themselves admitted to us they own 16 similar property in the area.”
Residents have told the Olive Press that two heavily-pregnant women and a number of men are now squatting in the three-bedroom villa – complete with its own swimming pool.
The intruders managed to completely knock down the exterior wall since the confrontation. This has left an opening to enter and exit. The front gate of the property has been padlocked.
Olive Press was told by a resident, who requested anonymity, that his community feels abandoned and in a state of despair.
“People feel helpless. The authorities don’t seem to be doing anything for them.
“Residents in urbanisation are scared to death.” There are many elderly residents living in urbanisation who are concerned.
Kenneth Yates of Lo Crispin described how police ordered residents to stop building the wall. As soon as the officers left, the squatters tore down the wall again.
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“The residents are most upset that squatters have more rights,” he said.
“We have lived on Lo Crispin fifteen years and never experienced a situation as this one. It is a disgrace to see the powers at be doing nothing and dragging their heels.
Elizalde, speaking to Olive Press, said he immediately reported squatters. This was in accordance with a Spanish Law that allows police to remove them without a court’s order if the report is made within the first 48-hours.
Two pregnant women and at least one child are said to be among the squatters.
But nothing was ever done, despite this window of legal opportunity being met.
Manuel Ivan Ros Rodes is the mayor of Algorfa.
The Olive Press has reached out to the mayor’s office in order to get a comment.
Elizalde has been keen to minimize the significance of Lo Crispin’s situation. He describes it as a symptom of a wider crisis, caused by the soaring prices of houses, the limited options for renting and the lack of social housing. These factors have led to a surge in illegal occupations all over the country.
In 2023, the Ministry of the Interior reported that a total of 15.289 complaints of illegal occupation were registered in Spain.
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“We have to be more aware about what’s happening,” he said.
We need to say that we need more housing for social services, and we also need to ensure that not anyone can just break into homes.
The new law passed by Congress allows express evictions to be carried out in less than 15 days. However, residents of Lo Crispin are not helped as their property is owned and managed by a private bank.
The community refuses to give up despite the frustration and fear. To raise awareness and demand actions, a neighbourhood meeting will be organised.
Elizalde said, “We are determined to fight back.” “But we cannot do it alone.”
The Olive Press offers Costa Blanca News.
