AND HERE IS THE NEWS…

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

Charity Distribution Centre burgled

 Restos du Coeur in Perpignan has been burgled for the second time this year.  The thieves broke in and took 850kilos of goods and food, including pasta, cakes, chocolate and frozen meat.  They also took the supply of anti-bacterial gel.  Two men were arrested at the scene but because of Covid 19 restrictions were asked to come to the police station at a later date.

Car fires in Perpignan

At 4am 6 cars were completely burned out and another was touched  by flames, in the Saint-Gauderique area of Perpignan.  Witnesses spoke of hearing  gunshots but police believe it is more likely to have been the sounds of exploding tyres.  Investigations are underway.

Busy morning for pompiers

The first accident occurred just before 1am when a car veered off the road between Saint-Estève and Peyrestortes and rolled over several times.  The 3 occupants of the car were taken to the Emergency Room.  Around 11.20am firefighters were called to the outskirts of Saint-Cyprien where a construction machine had cut through a live gas pipe.  Thirty five people were evacuated from their homes.  At 11.30am on the RN116 near Prades 2 vehicles collided head on, with one of them ending up on its roof.  The 46 year old driver, in a serious condition, was taken to hospital.  And then, barely 15 minutes later and just 400 metres from this accident, another head on accident occurred on the same road.  Circumstances of both accidents remain to be clarified.

Drug traffickers with fake prescriptions

Three people have been arrested for presenting fake prescriptions in pharmacies.  These prescriptions are in their own names but are issued by the ‘Tenon’ hospital or the ‘Curie Institute’ in Paris, and are for very expensive Cancer or Hepatitis C drugs.  These drugs are then sold abroad by organised criminal networks.  Pharmacies have been urged to be vigilant.

Eighty seven year old man stabs burglar

Police called to a burglary in a house in Saint-Cyprien discovered the body of a man in his forties, having been stabbed several times.  The 87 year old occupant of the house was arrested and may well be charged with ‘intentional homicide’.

And finally …..

Unless you are lucky enough to live on another planet, you will all be aware that the Covid 19 virus is now spreading rapidly throughout the department.  As the government statements, official figures and restrictions seem to change daily, I am not going to list all the advice on where you can travel, how far from home you can walk, or whether dogs are allowed to ride bicycles.  On a positive note, I have learned that the word ‘Curfew’ comes from the french expression ‘Couvre-feu’ (cover the fire).