Attempted mugging. - Page 2

Glad she got her purse and cards back. Thanks for sharing with everyone.

I was walking to Lidls when a man on the pavement outside the caravan park stopped me to ask how he could find somewhere to rent, but as soon as I started talking, he got in his car and started the engine, so I went to walk away but he still wanted my advice. He then changed the subject to where he can buy a nice watch as his father is coming over and its his birthday, a nice watch like the one I was wearing, "Is it gold" he asked as he reached for a pen and paper, "Give me the serial number please", with that I told him what to do and walked off, he sped away in his Italian registered car.

I imagine he hoped I would remove the watch to try and locate the serial number, in which case he would grab at as he drove off. He had a woman in the back of his car.

Another one to look out for! Again, thanks for making everyone aware.

good advice. A little more description regarding (regular culprits) It will..... (they are at it every day) occur every day. Let´s pass on.

V

I wonder what punishment they would get from the authorities if caught?

Mmm. Wonder???!

If you have a foreign registered car you are a prime target on the roads or service areas in general. Do not stop whatever they are pointing at on your car. Your tyres can also be done at traffic lights by a couple on a motorbike that pull alongside. Watch out for the guy that says something has dripped onto your clothing from above and helps to clean you up. Watch out for any confusion when entering or leaving buses or trains, wallets in front pockets are no protection. Do not go out for a few drinks wearing gold  or expensive watches, take only enough money for your evening out, and do not flaunt it unless you want to walk home naked. Beware of young girls or gypsy women in groups, they will touch you everywhere you don't want. Women with roses pairs of DVD sellers are also after handbag contents and anything else easily removable. Keep handbags closed and in front of you.

Agree taxi fares before getting in the taxi.

These are all things that we and our close friends have experienced in various European countries.

Always be aware of the people around you. (In Prague they wore business attire or hippie stuff and everything in between)

I forgot to add the very popular smash and grab or the feigned motorbike accident so popular in Italy.

Thank you so much for sharing this comprehensive list of advice. Extremely useful and I'm sure everyone on this forum will be just that little bit more vigilant. I know we never thought it would happen to us...………..but it does. Everywhere, every day.

As GCromVC  mentioned, I do wonder what stance the authorities take on this type of crime? Does anyone know?

In Prague I had had a few drinks and was walking home when a guy approached me from behind, he spoke English, he pushed me over with one hand while he grabbed my gold necklace with the other. My wife had her purse stolen from her rucksack on the elevator at a Metro station in Prague. She went to the police, had to get a translator and wasted about 4 hours apart from all the hassle over credit cards. She is an Italian and it is necessary to go to the police in this respect. We went around with an open rucksack for a week with 4 set mousetraps but nothing happened. While on the subject of Police in Prague, I saw thieves on the Metro who had just done an American take the guy to a policeman on the platform at the next station so he could denounce the theft to him!!! On another occasion a colleague got a taxi from the airport to his hotel. The Taxi driver wanted 3000Crowns (1995) about 60Quid then. He refused to pay. The taxi driver called the police who told him he must pay, When he handed over the cash they split it between themselves in front of him... Locally Summer Saturday and Sunday mornings provide some lovely Ladies handbags abandoned over fences here and there.. I have had and seen such fun everywhere from London to HK. You need flies eyes today and as they say in Italy to trust someone unknown is fine but not to trust them is much better. Just remember it does not just happen to someone else!

When I was in Torremolinos I found a UK ladies' driving license outside my gate. I sent it to her,some weeks later she thanked me and said her bag had been stolen in a local hotel, obviously by someone who knew I was English....

And thanks again for sharing these awful stories. They need to be told!