The security situation in southern Tenerife has become a constant source of worry for residents, business owners, and tourists. Far from being an isolated problem, business associations such as the Círculo de Empresarios y Profesionales del Sur de Tenerife (CEST) and the Open Commercial Zone of Los Cristianos have raised their voices to denounce an increase in the number of crimes that has been worsening for over two years. The concern is palpable in busy areas like Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, and the exclusive Golden Mile, where the perception of insecurity grows at the same rate as incidents.
Javier Cabrera, president of CEST, has publicly expressed this concern shared by the productive sector. He emphasizes that the problem is not recent but an upward trend that, if not addressed, threatens to spiral out of control. The fear is that Tenerife's image as a safe destination will be irreparably damaged if urgent and effective measures are not taken.
The audacity of criminals has reached alarming levels, with cases that demonstrate a feeling of complete impunity. A notorious example is that of a “climbing thief,” dubbed the “Spiderman of Tenerife,” who scales the balconies of five-star hotels in Playa de las Américas to access rooms and ransack them. According to hoteliers, these actions occur in waves, with several robberies in the same complex during a single week.
“"There is a lot of lack of control, a lot of fear, a lot of discouragement... it's demoralizing"
Robberies are not limited to nighttime assaults. Violence has also occurred in broad daylight in exclusive areas. Cabrera recounts a recent incident where a hotel guest in Playa de las Américas was assaulted at the hotel entrance to steal their watch. Similar incidents, focusing on high-end watches and other luxury items, are repeated in hotspots like the Verónicas area, creating an atmosphere of tension that the tourism sector wants to eradicate.
Business owners' frustration is compounded by the fact that, in many cases, those responsible for these crimes are identified by law enforcement. The problem, they claim, lies in a combination of factors: a lack of police resources and a “laxity” in the legal system that allows criminals to quickly return to the streets. Cabrera criticizes that, despite police efforts, arrestees are released within hours, creating a sense of impunity. Judicial slowness is another factor, as illustrated by the fact that he was called to ratify a robbery complaint from 2021 just a few weeks ago.
