This problem, which affects several municipalities on the Costa del Sol, has a serious impact on public safety and a high financial cost

Theft of gutter grates has become common in the municipality of Torremolinos. Aguas de Torremolinos calculates that over 200 grates have been stolen in around six months, and it has reported these thefts to the Policía Nacional, Policía Local and the Guardia Civil police forces.

These acts of vandalism have serious consequences for the people of Torremolinos, as they put their safety at risk. Not just the safety of pedestrians, who could fall into the holes left when the grates are removed, but also that of vehicles, as missing grates could cause serious accidents.

The problem increases as the grates cannot be replaced instantly. Although Aguas de Torremolinos fences off the area when it is informed that a grate is missing, fitting a new grate takes a few more days, mainly because the demand is so high because of the thefts that the stock of non-standard sized grates has become exhausted.

In addition, replacing these urban elements has a high economic cost. Replacing each grate costs around 300 euros, so replacing the over 200 grates that have been stolen requires an investment of over 60,000 euros.

A problem that affects the entire Costa del Sol

These thefts do not only affect Torremolinos: they have occurred along the length of the Costa del Sol. In Marbella, Hidralia reported the theft of over 200 grates. In addition, grates have been stolen in Mijas, Fuengirola and Benalmádena, whose mayor has called on residents to help through Facebook.

'We believe that public collaboration is very important; please don't hesitate to inform us or the authorities when you see one of these grates that may be being stolen or if you see a suspicious vehicle. If the vehicle does not have the Aguas de Torremolinos logo, it is not being driven by Aguas de Torremolinos operators. And if you find a gutter that is lacking its grate or may have been covered by an unsuitable object, please tell us immediately through our usual communication channels so that we can put warning signs up', said Pedro Peña, the company's manager.

You can call Aguas de Torremolinos on the incident report helpline at any time, 365 days a year for free (900 300 399), or notify us via Twitter (@H2OTorremolinos), in the offices or through the customer service hotline (900 300 390).