POLICE in Spain have given their top tips on preventing your home from being taken over by squatters.
It comes after a surge in so-called okupas across the country in recent years, not helped by recent laws which make it much more difficult to kick them out.
But according to the Policia Nacional, there are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of your property from being targeted.
The first piece of advice seems obvious; lock your door well. But police say you should do this every time you leave the house, even if you’re just nipping to your local shop or to visit a neighbour.
And if you’re going away for a longer period, make sure you have good contacts with your neighbours, who can warn you immediately if someone is trying to enter your home.
Additionally, do not post your holiday plans on social media, as this could give would-be squatters a clue that your home will be empty.
If you have the funds, invest in a high-tech and high-security front door with multiple steel locks, and put bars on your windows.
Special and strong locks can also be installed on sliding windows and doors, the police said.
If you want to install security cameras, they should be placed in areas with good lighting.
Installing an alarm system is also a good deterrent. When the alarm is triggered, it means someone is breaking and entering and therefore committing a crime, giving police greater powers to remove them immediately.
Finally, leave your home looking like people are still inside.
This means not leaving your mailbox stuffed with letters (ask a neighbour to collect them for you), leaving your doormat out and plants and decorative elements on balconies and windows in place.
