Police in Portimão have arrested three men aged between 26 and 32 on suspicion of extortion after a couple reported being threatened over an inflated charge for home maintenance work.
According to the Faro District Command of the PSP, the arrests were carried out on Friday, January 30 shortly after the victims went to the Portimão station to file a complaint.
Investigators ay that the suspects approached the couple at their home, offering to carry out cleaning and repair work on the exterior of the property. Once the work was completed, they allegedly demanded payment of a higher amount that had never been agreed in advance, which the couple considered excessive.
When the couple initially refused to pay, the suspects are said to have resorted to intimidation and threats, managing to obtain part of the money in cash and attempting to collect additional sums through electronic payments.
After a further attempt to collect money, the victims contacted the PSP. Officers quickly launched an operation that led to the location and interception of the suspects in the city.
During the operation, officers seized equipment used for exterior cleaning work, a vehicle and cash.
The three men were brought before a judge for their first court hearing on Saturday and were released under Portugal’s Termo de Identidade e Residência (TIR) – a coercive measure that acts as a kind of legal “leash”, ensuring authorities can always find and contact suspects, who are also obliged to report to authorities whenever necessary.
PSP police have urged the public to report similar situations immediately, warning that such cases often target isolated homes or properties with large outdoor areas. Residents are advised to be wary of persistent offers of work and demands for payment that were not agreed beforehand.
