Stéphane Burgatt
modified to
08:36, February 7, 2024
It is a stylish and recent condominium, with a view of the sea in the 15th arrondissement of Marseille. And yet… Threats, burglaries, assaults and vandalism on vehicles, residents no longer know what to do in the face of these nuisances. “These are groups of street cigarette sellers at the flea market. They have no papers, we can’t do anything against them. The other evening, I received death threats after a police raid. police. But am I going to file a complaint against who? Against X?”, annoys a mother who prefers to remain anonymous.
“An organized gang that makes its own”
The tenants discuss their setbacks through a discussion thread on WhatsApp. Philippe is the administrator. He had his vehicle damaged 14 times. “I’m no longer going to file a complaint and I’m no longer declaring anything to the insurers, because I’ve already been kicked out of two insurance companies because of that,” this Marseillais annoys. “It’s an organized gang that rules here. They live here, they party, they bring women, they drink and they drink. There are attacks. They even fight among themselves when one robbed a apartment which was to go to another. We, tenants, we are afraid. Because when we go out, we become prey,” he laments.
“They park in our parking spaces”
Under the threat of burglaries and squats, he has not dared to go on vacation for five years now. “They are constantly ringing the intercoms and knocking on doors.” Nuisances that are expensive, he continues: “You should know that they use our elevators, park in our parking spaces and illegally connect to the water and electricity meters. As they do not have badges to enter the gate, they break everything and the trustee charges us for it. Our charges have exploded!”
Illegal under rental
Also exasperated, Bilel, the concierge, came to meet Europe 1. He is forced to take strong action. “When it’s squatted, I take the doors, I remove them so that they stay inside. Because when they don’t have a door, they leave.” With his boxer’s build, he’s not the type to let things get to him. He actually came to blows twice with these tapes.
Bilel and Philippe enter a building. On the stairs, puddles of urine. The concierge explains that squatters also make easy money by subletting apartments. This is the case of an Algerian family. He knocks on their door, a 17 year old teenager opens. He lives here with his big brother and his mother and Bilel the concierge must this time play the translator. The family was referred here by “word of mouth”. They would pay 200 euros every month to strangers who come to collect the rent.
In recent months, raids by BAC North police officers have increased. The tenants thank them, but believe that the solution must come from elsewhere, because the squatters return tirelessly.