Fined €3,400 for Vandalising Traffic Control Fence 25 Times in Benidorm

Residents of a neighbourhood or street often complain about the inconvenience caused by traffic diversions due to construction, festivals, or other reasons. This is quite normal, and both local councils and police officers, who are the first to receive these complaints, are well-prepared to handle them. However, it is not common for residents to take matters into their own hands by dismantling the fences and barriers set up to signal these diversions.

This has been happening in Benidorm for the past "four or five months," according to Quique Tortosa, spokesperson for the Local Police of the tourist capital. They have finally identified a resident responsible for destroying the fences "on about 25 occasions" on the road to the Cruz in the Rincón de Loix area.

Now, after seeking help from other residents, the Local Police of Benidorm have finally caught the person responsible for these acts of vandalism. Tortosa explained to this newspaper that it is "a man residing in the area, a 60-year-old originally from an Eastern country," who was apparently "bothered by the fences because he would drive with his car and surfboards to the coves in the area in the afternoons."

"The cooperation of the residents has been crucial in identifying this individual who repeatedly broke the fences blocking access to the coves, throwing them into the Natural Park," added Quique Tortosa.

Regarding the process that led to his identification, the Local Police spokesperson emphasized that "he is a 60-year-old man living in the area, and although witnesses had already alerted us several times, we could not locate him as he hid in the green trails of Sierra Helada."

However, "on this occasion, we conducted a discreet watch in the area until the patrol managed to identify him upon his return home, as he matched the description provided by the witnesses."

The accused's actions will cost him dearly, as the Local Police spokesperson of the Costa Blanca tourist capital continues to explain, "he has been reported for two offences, one under the Citizen Security Protection Law and another under the General Traffic Regulations, which carry a fine of €3,400."