File image of a police intervention in a house where a person with an eviction order was residing. Shotoori

Couple Arrested in Alicante for Squatting and Stealing Jewellery

The detainees, living with their one-and-a-half-year-old son, claimed to have rented the property for 1,500 euros

Alejandro Hernández

Alicante

Martes, 1 de julio 2025, 19:25

The National Police have arrested a couple, living with their one-and-a-half-year-old son, for squatting in a house in the Alicante neighbourhood of Carolinas and taking several pieces of jewellery belonging to the owner, as reported by TodoAlicante.

The detainees, aged 27 and of Algerian origin, have been released pending their court appearance. They are being investigated for trespassing and possible misappropriation. They have also been subjected to the Immigration Law due to their administrative status in Spain, as confirmed by this newspaper.

The operation was carried out when an owner reported to the National Police the trespassing of her usual residence in the Carolinas neighbourhood, after a neighbour alerted her that people were living there while she was at her second home.

When a police patrol arrived at the residence, a man and a woman opened the door and claimed to have rented the house from a third party for 1,500 euros. However, after investigations, it was confirmed that the property - fully furnished and with personal belongings - legally belonged to the complainant, who had never rented it out.

Alicante records over 50 house squatting cases per month and is now the sixth province with the most cases in Spain

The squatters were identified and during a subsequent search, several pieces of jewellery were seized, some of which were recognised by the owner. The trespassing is believed to have occurred between the 12th and 13th of this month.

Several people at a rally supporting those affected by squatting. Europa Press

When can the Police arrest or evict squatters?

According to Article 18.2 of the Constitution and Article 202 of the Penal Code, a dwelling is inviolable, and if someone enters without consent, the Police can intervene immediately as it is considered a flagrant crime. This applies to both primary residences and second homes if they are intended for personal use, even if they are not inhabited at the time.

For example, if someone squats in your house while you are on holiday, you can report it as trespassing, and the Police can evict without waiting for a court order. This crime is known as trespassing and the penalties range from six months to two years in prison (without violence) and from one to four years if there is violence or intimidation.

However, when an uninhabited property is squatted - a crime of usurpation of property - there is usually no immediate eviction. In this case, it is considered a minor offence (Article 245.2 of the Penal Code) and usually requires a complaint from the owner and a judicial process, which can take weeks or months.

In conclusion, the National Police can evict or arrest illegal occupants of a property depending on the type of crime committed and the specific circumstances. In this case, they arrested the squatting couple, pending any criminal penalties, if applicable.