Javier says that some of the swimming club he belongs to are willing to move to another beach to avoid the harassment to which they have been subjected for almost two years by a person whom the Civil Guard is trying to locate. It is a group of outdoor swimmers, in Mediterranean waters, who have long chosen La Patacona beach, in Alboraia, very close to Malvarrosa beach, to begin their journeys. "There is a booth to change and showers, it is a good place to do the activity, but some of us are thinking about changing locations," he warns.
The reason? A stalker or harasser. A person who for almost two years has taken advantage of when swimmers are in the water to puncture their tires, break the windows of their cars or put signs on their windshields with insults such as "you are pigs." Over time, the level of harassment has increased. So much so that he now paints graffiti against them on nearby walls and has even gone so far as to post a photo of one of the swimmers throughout the neighborhood with the text: "Pedophile swimmer in Patacona."
At first, the swimmers thought it would be a temporary thing. "He surprised us, because we hardly make any noise and we left everything perfect; besides, no one has ever complained besides that person," says Javier. But over time they discovered this stalker's determination to make their lives difficult and even intimidate them. "The posting of a photo of us with those accusations has been very serious."
The matter was transferred to the mayor of Alboraia, Miguel Chavarrí, of the PSPV, but the group of swimmers emphasizes that "he has not done anything." They then went to the Civil Guard, who began investigating the identity of a person who also placed "stink bombs" in their cars. They have even gone so far as to organize so that someone always keeps an eye on the cars for fear of them being vandalized.
Messages have also been sent to citizens seeking collaboration: "We ask for citizen collaboration. This morning an uncivil person or people have vandalized the six showers and the adjacent square with offensive graffiti towards us. [...] If you know someone who lives in the area, please ask if anyone knows anything. This was not the first time and it surely will not be the last. We are swimmers and we will not succumb to intimidation.
At the moment, he has not been located. But some swimmers are already in favor of moving "a little further north" to avoid harassment from the anonymous person.
