Yesterday morning, September 22nd, a taxi driver who had just arrived at the Los Dolses shopping centre on the Orihuela Costa got a rather big scare. It was five a.m. He had just parked in a parking area when he observed two hooded individuals tampering with an ATM. One of them even approached his cabk and waved him away. “Go away,” he yelled, pointing violently.
The driver, who had safely backed away but was still in sight of them in a neighbouring area, witnessed the two people using explosives to blow up a Bankinter ATM in the shopping centre.
He immediately contacted the Local Police. The two males ran on foot, still wearing balaclavas, towards a roundabout on the VillamartÃn road.
Officers, who sealed off the area for several hours, have launched an inquiry to clarify the events and locate the suspects.
However, the heist remained an attempt because the criminals were unable to retrieve the loot, according to investigators.
“It was like a movie,” the cab driver stated, still in awe.
The Unidos por la Costa neighbourhood association has been warning for some time about a rise in violence along the seaside. In light of the escalating insecurity, they have called for additional resources and police presence on the streets.
More Guardia Civil
After the July Security Council meeting, Orihuela City Council notified the Ministry of the Interior of the urgent need for a permanent Civil Guard post on the coast and increased personnel to strengthen security in this vital sector of the municipality. However, the Council argued that the data revealed no severe crime rate, highlighting the heavy workload faced by Local Police officers, particularly during peak tourist season.
A month earlier, the City Council deployed 56 Local Police officers to the shoreline ahead of the summer campaign, at a time when the population is growing.
The City Council intends to cede land to the Ministry for the construction of the building that would house the new barracks, despite the fact that the coast has the Security and Emergency Centre, a facility where the National Police has strengthened the Immigration Office with the aim of intensifying the issuance of documents for foreign citizens, including the allocation of Foreigner Identification Numbers (NIE), European Union Member Certificates (CUE), and NIE concord
The 4,700-square-meter building opened three years ago at half capacity, housing this office—which is operated in partnership with the City Council—but omitting previously intended functions such as Civil Protection, SAMU (National Health Service), and Firefighters. Months later, the Guardia Civil’s office for submitting complaints opened. Previously, inhabitants had to travel 10 km to the barracks in Torre de la Horadada.
This incident took place in the same area where a 29-year-old Irish man was stabbed in June. This incident occurred just a few days after a 21-year-old Irish guy was shot in the head. The Guardia Civil then detained two of the victim’s compatriots, ages 27 and 45.
Author: Derek Appleton
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