The Roca Group of the Guardia Civil and the proximity unit of the Sant Antoni Local Police gave an informative talk at the Forada Social Centre on the prevention of theft in rural areas. The session brought together some 30 residents and is part of a series of talks aimed especially at older people living in scattered areas of the municipality.
The talk combined two approaches: the work of the Roca team, who specialise in rural home burglaries, and the Plan Mayor de Seguridad, which aims to protect the elderly from scams and other risks. As the officers explained, many rural homes are occupied by elderly people who, due to their isolation, can be targeted by criminals.
During the meeting, basic recommendations were given to help prevent burglaries. These included not always following the same routine when leaving the house, locking doors and windows, installing light sensors and using timers to simulate presence inside. It was also emphasised that machinery and tools should not be left outside as this could make it easier for burglars to break in.
Regarding scams, warnings were issued about common frauds involving the internet, text messages or phone calls. For this reason, the agents encouraged relatives of elderly people to be vigilant and accompany them with such matters. One of the tools highlighted was the AlertCops app, which enables users to alert the security forces if they notice anything unusual.
The Guardia Civil and the local police insisted on the importance of reporting any attempted burglary, even if the home has not been broken into. As they explained, sometimes there are no reports and this makes it difficult for the police to act. They also pointed out that WhatsApp groups between neighbours are useful, but that the information must also reach the security forces.
Alejandro Ponce, the local police chief, stressed that his proximity unit visits all the parishes in the municipality. ‘We want people to know us, to trust us and know that they can contact us for anything,’ he said.