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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 1:56pm
Helpful member
Chris4 wrote on Mon Nov 20, 2023 11:44am:
There are literally hundreds of lovely places for sale on the market, all on the Costa's, but they share one evil thing in common,
"Attention: Housing with OKUPAS, it cannot be visited, therefore we will only process cash offers, it cannot be financed."
Read more...
imagine the poor owners trying to get them off their hands
an example of a lovely terraced in La Marina with squatters for sale
Who the hell would even think of buying them??
Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 3:03pm
Helpful member
wtfamidoinghere wrote on Mon Nov 20, 2023 1:56pm:
Who the hell would even think of buying them??
maybe gangs who promote squatting, buy on the cheap
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 3:07pm
Helpful member
Abro wrote on Fri Aug 18, 2023 8:11pm:
Squatters broke into my house and the Guardia civil were informed within a few hours but they did nothing but offer the squatters assistance .
Most of my possessions have been stolen and sold .
Read more...
I have been told not to return to my house, and that I will have to pay for their expenses.
Can I complain about the Guardia Civil treating me like a criminal?
I am getting in a little late on this and really hope you sorted it all out in the meantime.
My two pence of advice to everyone, particularly holiday homes owners is to get an alarm system with police callout installed by a trusted company, not advertising anyone but the nationally known three four companies offer this service with different degrees of protection and options.
The basic point is that once your alarm is installed, notified and registered with the police (In Torrevieja it's the Policia Local but any nearest patrol of other forces can intevene in case of need) in case of trigger off they will intervene within minutes and BY LAW this will be treated as a robbery in progress so they will be forcefully evicted and charged, which is why squatter gangs carefully avoid properties with registered alarms and opt for unprotected properties instead. Our area had a few cases and in each the solution was prompt whereas a couple of non alarmed properties are still occupied.
We considered all options and then opted for installing one, whereas the yearly cost may seem high at first sight (but isn't really) please consider the following points:
How much are your belongings worth and how about losing those that can't be replaced?
How long will you lose the use of your place for?
How much will legal expenses be?
How much for the repairs assuming you manage to get them out?
How much will the private mercenaries cost you?
Etc...Etc...Etc...
My answer is: much much less than the yearly cost of an alarm system, that's for sure.
Also please don't go for the fake alarm system panels, they know them....
As a last please be aware that the latest trend is apparently for these gangs to map properties for sale that are not alarmed, they are primary targets to the extent that an increasing number of sellers do not want panels put on the properties.
Hope it helps and good luck.
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 10:47pm
Claudio59 wrote on Tue Nov 21, 2023 3:07pm:
I am getting in a little late on this and really hope you sorted it all out in the meantime.
My two pence of advice to everyone, particularly holiday homes owners is to get an alarm system with police callout installed by a trusted company, not advertising anyone but the nationally known three four companies offer this service with different degrees of protection and options....
Read more...
...
The basic point is that once your alarm is installed, notified and registered with the police (In Torrevieja it's the Policia Local but any nearest patrol of other forces can intevene in case of need) in case of trigger off they will intervene within minutes and BY LAW this will be treated as a robbery in progress so they will be forcefully evicted and charged, which is why squatter gangs carefully avoid properties with registered alarms and opt for unprotected properties instead. Our area had a few cases and in each the solution was prompt whereas a couple of non alarmed properties are still occupied.
We considered all options and then opted for installing one, whereas the yearly cost may seem high at first sight (but isn't really) please consider the following points:
How much are your belongings worth and how about losing those that can't be replaced?
How long will you lose the use of your place for?
How much will legal expenses be?
How much for the repairs assuming you manage to get them out?
How much will the private mercenaries cost you?
Etc...Etc...Etc...
My answer is: much much less than the yearly cost of an alarm system, that's for sure.
Also please don't go for the fake alarm system panels, they know them....
As a last please be aware that the latest trend is apparently for these gangs to map properties for sale that are not alarmed, they are primary targets to the extent that an increasing number of sellers do not want panels put on the properties.
Hope it helps and good luck.
Thank you for sharing that Claudio - some very interesting/useful information. One point: after your 5 questions, you say "my answer, much much less" - don't you mean "much much more"?
Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 5:43pm
Helpful member
Claudio59 wrote on Tue Nov 21, 2023 3:07pm:
I am getting in a little late on this and really hope you sorted it all out in the meantime.
My two pence of advice to everyone, particularly holiday homes owners is to get an alarm system with police callout installed by a trusted company, not advertising anyone but the nationally known three four companies offer this service with different degrees of protection and options....
Read more...
...
The basic point is that once your alarm is installed, notified and registered with the police (In Torrevieja it's the Policia Local but any nearest patrol of other forces can intevene in case of need) in case of trigger off they will intervene within minutes and BY LAW this will be treated as a robbery in progress so they will be forcefully evicted and charged, which is why squatter gangs carefully avoid properties with registered alarms and opt for unprotected properties instead. Our area had a few cases and in each the solution was prompt whereas a couple of non alarmed properties are still occupied.
We considered all options and then opted for installing one, whereas the yearly cost may seem high at first sight (but isn't really) please consider the following points:
How much are your belongings worth and how about losing those that can't be replaced?
How long will you lose the use of your place for?
How much will legal expenses be?
How much for the repairs assuming you manage to get them out?
How much will the private mercenaries cost you?
Etc...Etc...Etc...
My answer is: much much less than the yearly cost of an alarm system, that's for sure.
Also please don't go for the fake alarm system panels, they know them....
As a last please be aware that the latest trend is apparently for these gangs to map properties for sale that are not alarmed, they are primary targets to the extent that an increasing number of sellers do not want panels put on the properties.
Hope it helps and good luck.
Hi Claudio, Thank you for the information.
Whilst I was researching for an alarm system I was somewhat concerned over some reports that I was receiving ! - some were with the alarm company and police not responding to alarm calls ! which really does make the investment pointless ! - Other concerns were over the service costs and trying to end the contract !
When you say " don't go for the fake alarm system panels, they know them...." - Do you mean Decoy bellboxes ? as they wouldn't see the panel ( ie control panel as it would be inside )
Have you had any alarms, false or real with the company you are with ? did they respond ? - in the UK if you have more than 2 false alarms they withdraw monitoring for a year but you still have to pay for it ! - is this the same with Spain ? and your contract ?
Could you please advise here or by private message who you bought the alarm system from, the cost and annual charges.
Thank You, Regards Lee.
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 5:53pm
Helpful member
michael207 wrote on Tue Nov 21, 2023 10:47pm:
Thank you for sharing that Claudio - some very interesting/useful information. One point: after your 5 questions, you say "my answer, much much less" - don't you mean "much much more"?
Hello,
I meant much much more indeed.... well spotted and thanks for pointing it out :)
Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 6:09pm
Helpful member
Lee 03189 wrote on Wed Nov 22, 2023 5:43pm:
Hi Claudio, Thank you for the information.
Whilst I was researching for an alarm system I was somewhat concerned over some reports that I was receiving ! - some were with the alarm company and police not responding to alarm calls ! which really does make the investment pointless ! - Other concerns were over the service costs and trying to...
Read more...
... end the contract !
When you say " don't go for the fake alarm system panels, they know them...." - Do you mean Decoy bellboxes ? as they wouldn't see the panel ( ie control panel as it would be inside )
Have you had any alarms, false or real with the company you are with ? did they respond ? - in the UK if you have more than 2 false alarms they withdraw monitoring for a year but you still have to pay for it ! - is this the same with Spain ? and your contract ?
Could you please advise here or by private message who you bought the alarm system from, the cost and annual charges.
Thank You, Regards Lee.
Hi Lee,
Police response to calls is something I can only comment for my area, I have no knowledge of other places but in this area they do indeed respond. After installation I had a patrol car parked outside checking premises, access points etc, and a few months later another car parked there again so as I was doing some gardening work I asked if there was an issue with the alarm and the officer said they were just updating records and places...makes me think they take it seriously.
With regards to false alerts I had three, all caused by myself, the company responded as per schedule with messages and calls, once verified it was me causing it all went back to normal.
My contract does not have a clause regarding false alerts other than those caused "intentionally" by the owner, again I can't comment about UK contract clauses as I never had an alarm system there, the lovely elderly lady next door was the most efficient system ever!
With regards to decoy panels I meant the external ones you find everywhere on the web including decoy sirens etc.., no internal ones of course. The crooks know them all believe me, they can spot a real official one from an internet purchased decoy...after all they have made a job out of it haven't they?
I will PM you with regards to who I use as it would be inappropriate to mention any company here, I am not posting on behalf of any company, just a happily retired person in the sun!
Regards
Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 6:23pm
Helpful member
Claudio59 wrote on Wed Nov 22, 2023 6:09pm:
Hi Lee,
Police response to calls is something I can only comment for my area, I have no knowledge of other places but in this area they do indeed respond. After installation I had a patrol car parked outside checking premises, access points etc, and a few months later another car parked there again so as...
Read more...
... I was doing some gardening work I asked if there was an issue with the alarm and the officer said they were just updating records and places...makes me think they take it seriously.
With regards to false alerts I had three, all caused by myself, the company responded as per schedule with messages and calls, once verified it was me causing it all went back to normal.
My contract does not have a clause regarding false alerts other than those caused "intentionally" by the owner, again I can't comment about UK contract clauses as I never had an alarm system there, the lovely elderly lady next door was the most efficient system ever!
With regards to decoy panels I meant the external ones you find everywhere on the web including decoy sirens etc.., no internal ones of course. The crooks know them all believe me, they can spot a real official one from an internet purchased decoy...after all they have made a job out of it haven't they?
I will PM you with regards to who I use as it would be inappropriate to mention any company here, I am not posting on behalf of any company, just a happily retired person in the sun!
Regards
Many thanks Claudia for your detailed response, I will take this in to consideration and look forward to your private message.
Kind Regards Lee
Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 7:31pm
Helpful member
Claudio59 wrote on Wed Nov 22, 2023 5:53pm:
Hello,
I meant much much more indeed.... well spotted and thanks for pointing it out :)
I don’t think Anyone Else misunderstood what you meant . Could you pm me too please, your information is invaluable.
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