Three people have been arrested by the Local Police after allegedly breaking into and occupying a home on Paseo de Chil in Las Palmas while the legal tenant was hospitalised. According to police sources, the group had forced entry into the property with the intention of remaining there.
The incident unfolded shortly after midnight last night, when the property owners contacted police to report a suspected break-in. A neighbour had noticed unusual activity at the home, including lights on inside and the front door ajar, something that raised alarm, as the usual tenant, who is currently in hospital, would normally secure the door with a padlock.
Upon investigating, the neighbour saw the door hastily shut from the inside, but the lock could not be properly fastened from within. Sensing something was wrong, the neighbour alerted the property owners, who quickly arrived and called the police.
The owners explained to officers that the house is not their primary residence and had been lent to a tenant under a formal agreement, with the understanding that he would care for the property. As the tenant had been admitted to hospital on Friday, the house had been left empty for a few days.
When officers arrived and asked the occupants to come out, three people emerged from the property. Initially, they claimed not to understand the officers due to language barriers, as they don’t speak Spanish. However, eventually they admitted to entering the house through a rear access point and confessed that they intended to stay.
All three were arrested on suspicion of breaking and entering the property, and are being investigated for the alleged crime of squatting, as confirmed by the National Police. The case highlights the ongoing challenges around illegal occupation of properties in the Canary Islands and elsewhere in Spain.
