Fifteen people have been arrested in the Balearics, members of an organised clan, ‘Los Peludos’, who rented out properties which did not belong to them.
The gang would break into unoccupied homes, change the locks, obtain illegal supplies of water and electricity and then rent out the properties for between 250 and 300 euros per month. The tenants were usually poor immigrants or long-term unemployed, with failure to meet the payments resulting in threats and coercion.
The detainees managed to break into sixty homes and were obtaining around 20,000 euros per month for their endeavours.
Four of the gand have been remanded in custody, the remainder released on bail. The charges include obtaining real estate through fraud, threats, coercion, illegal possession of weapons possession and theft of electricity.