The Guardia Civil in Granada have arrested two men, one aged 55 and other 28, for reportedly stealing 1,700 euros from an 81-year-old woman in La Rábita, whilst working for a Granada-based company doing gas boiler servicing.

The two men turned up in their uniforms, with ID cards on their chests and then after convincing the elderly woman that her gas boiler needed checking, the woman gave in to their insistence and let them in.

Despite being told that the gas installations in the property were in perfect working order, the two men checked every part of the system and indeed found nothing wrong and didn’t change any parts. They then presented the elderly woman with a bill for 292 euros. By now, frightened and tired, the woman agreed to pay the bill.

Not happy with getting the 292 euros for non-existent work, the two allegedly searched through the drawers and cupboards of the property and found a box containing 1,700 euros which the woman had put aside to pay bills etc. and decided that they would take that as well.

There have been many complaints amongst the expat communities about these ‘gas revision’ operatives. This is the first time we have seen reports of them reportedly stealing from within a property, although not the first time that they have been accused of over-charging for work that was not necessary.

(News: La Rabita, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)