The centre of Motril has suffered a bombardment of acts of petty theft over the last few months, especially in the Cerro de la Virgen and Calle Nueva area.

But things might be on the turn, despite this daily litany of reported thefts, threats and a general sensation a lack of safety, because of an arrest and subsequent court finding.

The Juzgado de Primera Instancia e Instrucción Nº 4 in Motril found a man guilty of petty theft (hurtos) and two instances of assault, committed on the 6th of January. Besides the fine imposed, he was also issued a court order barring him from approaching a particular business establishment for six weeks.

There are obviously limits to the severity of a sentence as it must adjust to the crime committed but it brings a sigh of relief to the said business, which is the Repsol gasolinera on Avenida de Andalucía; i.e. on the roundabout bringing in traffic from the Port Road and Avenida de Salobreña.

But this judicial retribution is just a tiny step against the wave of criminality in the town centre, where at least one business has suffered 40 incidents in less than a month; that’s twice a day in some instances.

Going back to the gasolinera, the incident in question involved shoplifting; i.e. leaving the premises without paying for items on the shelves. When approached by the staff he reacted violently. The case was held on the 10th of last month and the man had a 300-metre restriction placedon him from approaching the gasolinera.

(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

keywords: Cerro de la Virgen, Calle Nueva, Thieves, Businesses, Gasolinera, Court Order, Habitual Thief, Criminal Record

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