AND HERE IS THE NEWS…

….a quick glance at the latest local news with Caroline Manson

Series of fires in the P-O

Firefighters were kept extraordinarily busy during a 48 hour period after a series of fires broke out in the department.  The first, and most serious, was in the middle of the Aspres between Camélas and Castelnou on the foothills of the Canigou.  More than 800 firefighters (including many from neighbouring departments) battled to fight the fire in very difficult conditions due to the rough terrain and the strong winds. 

Significant air resources were also mobilised: a helicopter from the Ariège gendarmerie, five Dash aircraft, two water bomber helicopters, seven Canadair aircraft and four AirTractor aircraft.  The residents of Castelnou were evacuated, and also inhabitants of isolated Mas around Camelas, Caixas and Montauriol.  Five firefighters were slightly injured during the operations and the fire, which covered 400 hectares, was finally declared under control around 3am on Saturday morning. 

Several more vegetation fires broke out on Saturday – Banyuls-dels-Aspres, Brouilla/Ortaffa, Rivesaltes and Saint-Genis/Villelongue-dels-Monts, but they were swiftly brought under control.  Towards the end of the day a large fire could be seen in the distance at La Jonquera and ton Sunday two more fires started simultaneously near Porte d’Espagne. 

The good news is that a man was arrested near the scene of these last two fires; fire-starting equipment was found in his backpack and images recorded on is mobile phone appear to prove his guilt.  

Motorcyclist found dead

On Sunday the lifeless body of a 36 year old motorcyclist was discovered on the RD7, the road that connects Saint-Martin-de-Fenouillet and Le Vivier.  Firefighters called to the scene could do nothing as it appeared that the man had been dead for several hours.  This is the second fatal accident involving a motorcyclist in just a few days – on Friday a man died on the RD914 near Elne when for some unknown reason he crashed head on into a car while driving on the wrong side of the dual carriageway.  The 52 year old was pronounced dead at the scene and luckily the driver of the car was unharmed.  Police are investigating both incidents.

Escaped prisoner found in the Vallespir

Ronan Cottave had been sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempting to murder his girlfriend in Montpellier in 2018.  The knife attack was so ferocious that it was only due to the speedy intervention of the Montpellier police that she escaped death.  It therefore seems strange that after serving just 6 years of his sentence that he was given an exit permit, giving him permission to leave Muret prison (Haute Garonne) for one day.  Unsurprisingly he did not return, leading to a huge police search. 

The article does not state why the Cérét police were contacted but a dog handler and a helicopter were mobilised and the man was found hiding in an isolated hamlet in the mountains and was returned to prison. The girlfriend’s family are furious that they were not informed that he had been given a day-pass and assume that he was trying to find his victim again.

Roadworks ahead

Resurfacing works have started on the busy A9 between junctions 41 and 42 (Perpignan North and Perpignan South).  The Vinci group advise that work on this 16 kilometre stretch of roadway will be mostly carried out at night in an effort to minimise disruption to the 29,000 vehicles (average) per day which use the road.  The site will also be closed during the weekends.  However, while the works are carried out the traffic will sometimes be diverted, and the Péage accesses may be temporarily closed.  The work is to be completed by the end of November.

Jewellery thieves arrested in Perpignan

Since April 2024 police have been investigating a spate of jewellery thefts in Canet, Saint-Syprien, Elne and Cabestany.  Suspicions focussed on a duo.  On September 11th in a large-scale operation in collaboration with officers from the Drome culminated in the arrest of two burglars, already known to the justice system.  A search of their homes revealed a multitude of stolen objects and a large amount of cash.  The duo have been immediately sentenced to 3 years in prison and the police are attempting to return all the stolen objects to their rightful owners.

New ‘tool’ for highway robbers

Driving into Spain you will all have seen the signs giving warnings about the ‘tyre’ scam (a passing car will point at your tyres making you think you have a problem but when you pull over you will be robbed) but now these thieves are making use of the latest technology.  They are now using a gadget called a ‘frequency inhibitor’ – a little box the size of a cigarette packet that can blur the frequency of car door locks. 

The thieves, often operating in gangs of 3 or 4 target vehicles parked in rest areas or service stations.  They watch a car arrive and at the moment the driver steps out and operates his remote control door locking system, they activate their little box which blurs the frequency and means that the car doors do not actually lock, leaving them free to strip the car of luggage etc while the unknowing driver takes his break. 

Although illegal these devices are easily available on the internet and last week alone the Mossos announced that 4 suspects had been arrested.  Their advice is to park in busy areas near video surveillance cameras, and also to double check that your doors are actually locked. 

New ‘tool’ for highway robbers

A motorist travelling from Spain tried to pass through the Péage at Le Boulou without paying, by nipping through just behind the car in front of him.  Police spotted this action and gave chase, but despite repeated hints from them the driver refused to slow down.  Police used their ‘stinger’ device which lacerated two of the car’s tyres but still he managed to drive on and only came to a halt when he arrived at the Rivesaltes Péage where he smashed through the barrier and hit the central reservation. 

The car came to a halt but the driver ran off and was arrested as he tried to run towards a petrol station.  Apparently he was not keen on being arrested by the 3 police officers and threatened them with death, and also threatened to track down their family members and slaughter them.  Hopefully he will find this hard to do as he is now being held in prison awaiting trial for being over the drink/drive limit and for driving a stolen car.

And finally……

It’s always nice to have your neighbours over on a sunny afternoon; a leisurely long-drawn out meal in the garden, a few drinks, good conversation, more drinks, more drinks, more drinks…. It was apparently at 10 pm and after many many drinks that the 64 year old host stabbed his 32 year old guest in the stomach, which resulted in said guest being rushed to Perpignan hospital.  In his defence, the host stated that he was just cutting a slice of ham when his guest came over to hug him and accidentally impaled himself on the knife.  As this is not the first time the host has been in trouble with the police he was sentenced as a ‘repeat offender’ to 9 months in prison and banned for holding or carrying a weapon for 3 years.