Robbed at alicante airport - Page 2

Sorry to hear about this, even the most vigilant of us get distracted from time to time. I hope they may be able to do something via the CCTV. Whenever I’m approached by a stranger now, I immediately glance behind me to see if anyone is lurking, then  I tell the person in front of me to stay at arms length. It’s sad that we have to do this, but that’s the way things are now I guess. Anyway, best of luck!

To be honest, you guys should take a bit of your own advice! You have been guiding us women on how to be secure at times..

Dont leave your handbag or purse in view

Close the boot before you walk away

Lock your doors...

Sound familiar? 😋

Sorry, just having a jest with you... sorry for your loss.. 

Judge, its really sad to hear you feel you now have to perform such actions whenever approached by a stranger.

These opportunists have a lot to answer for. Grrrr! 

LeckyLes.

Some of us always have performed such actions, for whatever reason.

It doesn't mean that you will never be taken advantage of, but it reduces the chances significantly. If you are aware of your surroundings and always consider your personal security then this is a form of passive protection and can often be detected by professional thieves. Unfortunately for others they then move on to easier targets.

Spot on Relyat.

Sad situation indeed ! 

LeckyLes.

You’re right LeckyLes, they have a lot to answer for. Also if it’s true? a lot of the people (thieves, pea men etc) who bother and steal from tourists in the very busy areas, seem to be back on the streets blatantly carrying on within a few of hours of being lifted by the police, or chased away by the police. They seem to have no fear or respect for the authorities. 

They have no fear or respect.

Most of them have been born into the life, seeing fathers and brothers doing the same.

They've been raised visiting them in prison when, on the odd occasion, they are caught and sentenced. 

They know that if they in turn go to prison it will not be for their first, or even second or third offence. When there life might be an inconvenience but not uncomfortable. It won't be for long and they will have friends there.

To make it a deterrent, prison needs to be a place that you don't want to go. A place that you know you will go to if convicted.

This costs money. Politicians only ever look to the next election, this lack of long term planning has led us to where we are now with a system that does not have the resources, not just money but infrastructure too, to cope and we the public have to face the consequences.

Spanish correction facilites are over-occupied by appr. 160%. Up to 2-year terms are not served except if reincident, and some 3 years ago the Prosecutor General instructed all regional state attourneys not to disclose information regarding criminal offences in known in their jurisdiction.

This happened to us a few years ago at Barcelona airport. We were waiting for a pre arranged taxi to take us to a cruise ship we were about to board. Someone came up to us with a piece of paper which they put in our faces and said something in Spanish. As we stepped forward to read the paper, thinking he was the taxi driver we were waiting for, someone came behind us and stole my wife's handbag.

A very stressful experience as the bag had all our passports, money, car keys, etc. Total value £2.5k. Plus we had just two hours to board the ship before it sailed.

Police and airport authorities were a complete waste of time, and weren't in the slightest interested.

Fortunately, Barcelona has one of the two British consulates in Spain. We had to take a taxi and were issued emergency passports. They were fantastic unlike the useless Spaniards!

Then we had to wait until we were on our way back to Barcelona to report the crime for an insurance crime number in Palma.

Next we had a massive uphill battle to be paid out by the insurance company.

Moral of the story; be totally aware and don't trust anyone. 

Real shame that its come to this!