RESIDENTS in a Sevilla province town have vandalised and set fire to five houses belonging to a gypsy clan behind a crimewave in which dozens of homes have been burgled.
Fed up with waiting for justice to be done and condemning police inaction as the break-ins continue night after night, the people of Estepa finally snapped yesterday (Saturday) evening and staged a mass protest in the village before crowds of locals set upon the gypsies' homes.
Guardia Civil officers say the resulting riots are ongoing, and are attempting to bring the situation under control and identify those who damaged and ransacked the gypsies' homes.
The clan, known as Los Chorizos – Spanish slang which roughly means 'tea-leaves' – were not at home at the time, and a number of protesters smashed windows with sticks and stones, entered the buildings and stole various items in broad daylight and in full view of the village.
Two men were photographed and cheered on as they carried a giant plasma-screen TV they had stolen from one of the clan's homes.
Some of the demonstrators set light to mattresses in two of the houses, leading to clouds of smoke filling the village, although the damage caused was minimal in the end.
Over the past few months, residents have been living in fear as home after home has been burgled in Estepa, some of them on more than one occasion.
Despite constant reports to the police, little action has been taken and the gypsies continue with their crimewave, according to inhabitants.
On Friday, the council department in charge of the Local Police force agreed to put more officers on the beat at night, but the villagers say this is too little, too late.
