Since December, the Elche City Council has been non-compliant with the monthly lease payment for approximately twenty patrol vehicles of the Elche Local Police, which were acquired in June 2023. The debt would exceed 117,000 euros in total, as the agreement between the Councillor for Contracting, Claudio Guilabert, and the commercial company that was awarded the contract, Transtel SA, required a monthly payment of 23,425.60 euros. The mayor accompanied Carrús to the presentation of these vehicles in order to suggest that the neighbourhood requires additional security, as requested by a variety of social groups.

A municipal spokesman, without providing an explanation for the reasons for the nonpayment, affirmed that the debt will be paid this month. The payment is anticipated to be charged to the 2024 treasury balances after it is incorporated into the municipal budget this week.

The situation is particularly peculiar, as the payment guarantee was acquired on June 21st, 2023, for 1.1 million euros, including VAT, at the time of the contract’s signing. In a recent plenary session, PSOE spokesman Héctor Díez accused the government team of having over 3.5 million euros in unpaid bills in the drawers. He also denied that the surpluses from the previous year were 31 million, as the Municipal Strategy Councillor, Francisco, had assured Soler, as well as the mayor himself, Pablo Ruz, when he assured that he was the “biggest saving” in history. Money that was not actually spent, not only from 2024 but also from previous years.

The local police have continued to patrol with these vehicles, all of which are SUVs and operate on hybrid fuel, despite the fact that the issue of non-payment has gone unnoticed.

They provided explanations for the events that transpired, which is unusual for a city council such as the one in Elche, where the municipal government (PP and Vox) is in charge. They underscored the healthy condition of the accounts and the low level of debt.
Nevertheless, it is possible to owe up to five invoices. Additional sources that were reviewed
The newspaper suggested that the issues may have been the result of an error in the municipal accounting department. However, it is challenging to provide an explanation when not only
Invoices for 2024 are included in addition to those for this year.

One of the initial contracts signed by Claudio Guilabert was the contract that was tendered by the previous government team. This contract was also one of the first presentations of the investment, which the opposition has repeatedly criticised the PP for erasing the image of the previous administration. The vehicles arrived months later, and a four-year agreement is in the works. This agreement will encompass the useful life of the vehicles, which are on the road nearly every day. Although the contract stipulated an annual review, each of them has been subjected to additional requirements due to the requirement to conduct it every 15,000 kilometres. Furthermore, there was an additional one-year warranty, in addition to the two that were already provided, that covered any manufacturing or installation defect or vice, irrespective of the kilometre limit.

The document signed between the parties states that a budget allocation has been applied to item….. dated 1st August 2023 in order to execute this contract. The agreement stipulated that the authorised credit for each fiscal year in the budgets would be prioritised over the credit, as it was a multi-year contract. It is evident that in the current budget, if no payment has been made, he was not present. However, what transpired in December 2024? The amount was required to be paid in arrears, prior to the presentation of the corresponding invoice. The contract was overseen by a local police commander, who was the individual who reported that the invoices were not being paid. Mayor Ruz, who served as the opposition, was highly critical of the Local Police’s inability to perform their duties due to a lack of resources. He publicly criticised the decision to abandon a material contest.

The Guardia Civil has dismantled a network responsible for 110 burglaries in inhabited residences in the provinces of Alicante, Valencia, Albacete, and Murcia.

The group was operating in the municipalities of Elda, Novelda, and Villena in the province of Alicante, as well as in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante, San Vicente de Raspeig, Teulada, and Gata de Gorgos, according to the Civil Guard of Albacete’s investigation.

There have been seven arrests of Colombian nationals, with ages ranging from 19 to 42.

The burglaries were perpetrated by the perpetrators using a technique called “bumping”, which enables the opening of a door without the need to force the security lock. By inserting a manipulated key into the lock cylinder, they were able to cause the cylinder pistons to leap out, thereby enabling the key to turn and thereby opening the security door.

The Guardia Civil stated in a statement on Monday that the detainees gained access to the apartment entrances by either using the lock or repeatedly contacting the apartment doormen, posing as employees of courier companies, telephone companies and so forth. This approach earned the trust of their neighbours, who subsequently opened the building doors for them.

On other occasions, the group employed female members to make residence decisions. They pretended to disseminate publicity or request data for surveys by ringing doorbells while carrying folders or survey kits. They promptly notified the group members if there were no residents.

The organisation that has been dismantled stole jewellery, watches, currency, or any other valuable items.

National Police officers have arrested a 43-year-old man for allegedly perpetrating a burglary within a hospital in Elche. The private security personnel were aware of the suspect, who had broken into 14 containers in various locations he had visited, and they notified the police.

Although the individual fled to a nearby neighbourhood, patrols promptly apprehended him. Among his possessions, they found a variety of medical supplies and instruments purportedly used to break into the lockers.

This individual was apprehended by officers for the purported offence of burglary, as determined by the information gained. Following the police investigation, the detainee appeared before the investigating court on duty.

Arrested for an attempted assault at a different facility in Elche

An incident of violence against medical staff occurred at another local hospital in the wake of an attempted assault by a 34-year-old man who had recently been discharged.

The private security team of the centre was compelled to promptly intervene in response to the attacker’s aggressive behaviour, thereby preventing the situation from escalating and causing additional harm.

The individual was promptly apprehended by a police detail, who identified him as the alleged perpetrator of a crime that involved the assault and damage of healthcare workers. They subsequently arrested him.