Beware of thieves when driving to Spain

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 10:21am

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Bern1963

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Hi we have drove to Spain from the UK but would like all other drivers to beware of thieves working together to steal your valuables.

We were travelling down the AP7 to Orihuela and stopped outside a rest area with a restaurant 10 metres away and decided to take a nap but idiots as we were we didn’t lock the car door, so we both dropped off to sleep

After so long my wife heard the door open and a man was trying to take her bag but she shouted and pressed the horn causing him to jump in a waiting car and sped off, so luckily they didn’t get anything.

The police said there were gangs working in the area just to steal valuables and they would let the air out of your tyres then ask to help you and another man would steal your belongings

On our way home also we saw a French couple had had the same experience and they did have belongings stolen so be vigilant

This was between Barcelona and Gerona area but it could be anywhere

If this post helps just one person it’s been worth it

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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 12:13pm

killjoy

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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 12:13pm

Sad but true: the police will do nothing as long as there are no injuries or worse. Fill your deposit up and go on hot wheels right through to Alicante. The AP7 is a trap. Don't carry anything considered as a weapon - you can get into troulble. A fire extinguisher is ok. I use a uniform jacket well visible from the outside on a hanger of a rear seat.

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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 4:21pm

Golandrina

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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 4:21pm

This type of thing has been going on for years. Back in 2004, before we moved to Spain, my late husband and I stopped in a large parking area outside Barcelona to use their toilets and have a cup of coffee. We were only away from our car for about 10-15 minutes but when we returned our car had been opened by damaging the front passenger door lock and items had been stolen. The people in the restaurant were helpful and called the police who asked us to follow them to their office a short drive away. A very pleasant but apologetic officer took our statements. He told us that this sort of thing was being done by gangs of non-Spanish people who they found difficult to locate.

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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:22pm

Fretterz83

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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:22pm

My father in law stopped at a gas station, put gas in and went to pay, came out and drove off, 5 mins down road, tyre was flat, had been stabbed with a knife, car pulled up behind, 3 undesirables got out and walked towards him when the police turned up in seconds they got back in car and drove off. Police told him they'd been slashing tyres at petrol station and following cars hoping they'd pull off a side road and they were being robbed.

He was lucky that day the police were onto them, I always wonder why they didn't chase the car though, they must have seen them pull off.

Terrible isn't it

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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 7:57pm

Martyn1986

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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 7:57pm

Fretterz83 wrote on Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:22pm:
My father in law stopped at a gas station, put gas in and went to pay, came out and drove off, 5 mins down road, tyre was flat, had been stabbed with a knife, car pulled up behind, 3 undesirables got out and walked towards him when the police turned up in seconds they got back in car and drove of...

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...f. Police told him they'd been slashing tyres at petrol station and following cars hoping they'd pull off a side road and they were being robbed.
He was lucky that day the police were onto them, I always wonder why they didn't chase the car though, they must have seen them pull off.
Terrible isn't it

Because stopping the car won't serve them any purpose unfortunately because no crime at that point has been committed. They would simply say they were stopping to help seen the police and decided to let them handle it. Its an old scam I'm amazed it goes on. The thieves themselves are scum, although Spain is an extremely safe country I still believe there should be worse punishments than a suspended sentence. It should be off with a hand or finger