Dear Ed,
I would like to inform you of a recent series of burglaries in our urbanisation [in Cotobro, Almuñécar].
On Saturday 14th, between the 3 and 4 o’clock in the morning, the “cacos” (thieves) broke into several houses along c/del Tenis (including my own). In all cases the owners were absent.
[mappress]It later turned out that the day before a lady living on the same street had noticed a strange man “of darkish complexion” standing on her property in broad daylight, smoking a cigarette and observing the neighbourhood. Quick-minded, she loudly called for her (absent) husband in the house informing him of her observation. Upon which the stranger quickly slipped away. Her house was spared a later visit by the cacos.
The break-ins were discovered by a gardener arriving a few hours later, who called the Guardia Civil. They established that the thugs had apparently only been after money and valuables, easily carried and to be disposed of later. Neither of which was to be found in my own house; they only took along a large screwdriver which was later found, bent and damaged, in the house of another neighbour.
This fellow was not so lucky; they had removed his strong box from the wall and taken it to the disused tennis court at the bottom of c/Principal. They must have used a car for transport. The Guardias found a large farmer’s pick beside the open strong box. The owner of the safe then established that only his collection of valuable watches had been stolen. Papers and documents they had not touched.
(A note: as reported in the Seaside Gazette, at earlier occasions thugs had even entered the bedrooms where the owners were asleep, stealing money, car keys and valuables from the night tables).
They had forced entry into the houses by smashing in doors, thereby destroying the wooden frames holding the lock feeder. In several cases, they had entered through very small windows of laundry cabinets and even a skylight, all unprotected by iron grids. The dexterity needed for the latter suggests that they must have been rather young and fit persons. Once inside, they were checking (and leaving open) all cupboards and drawers, but fortunately without causing more damage or havoc.
The Guardia Civil later sent a specialist to take fingerprints etc. – but no news yet about the cacos being caught. It is believed that – as at earlier occasions in the surroundings (Punta de la Mona being a favourite area) they were an itinerant gang, probably foreigners.
Yesterday, on the morning after our return to Cotobro, and after our first shopping in town, we found a strange car parked in front of our gate: it turned out to be the sales agent of a security company, who told us that neighbours had sent him to us (and others in the area). To judge by the increasing number of their red plates found by house entrances in our urbanisation, they must be doing a good business these days.
Yours Faithfully
Concerned Cotobro Resident