Burglaries/Breakins

[Chrisdee]

I was just wondering if breakins are as bad now as they have always been or are they any worse.
I've just read a post from another member and they have had a few breakins overnight on their urb, my insurance company said things were bad and the premiums will shoot up next year. Where abouts are they happening.
When they do happen, what kind of security did the houses have, were there grids up at the windows, alarms, etc. I'm just interested what areas are being hit or is it all Torrevieja, OC and surrounding areas.
Fingers crossed we are all safe and secure.

[JulieN]

Burglaries around where I live on the Orihuela Costa are very very common. Last night, several houses were broken into with people actually in them. In two cases, the wrecker gates were forced and on the third, the bars pulled from the windows. The bars look impressive but they are only sunk into the plaster surrounds and are easily pulled out. I believe that burglaries have increased since the collapse of the building industry - maybe a case of the devil finding work for idle hands ? As well as cash, cards etc. laptops and TV's are now being stolen.

I have little faith in the police system here because they do not attend crime scenes even when there is forensic evidence available. One of the houses done last night was covered in footprints and a shirt was found wrapped around the window bars that had been pulled out.

Neighbourhood Watch is a waste of time because of the number of empty houses

The best thing is not to have valuable possessions, have a second hand TV etc. don't be flash, don't keep cash in the house, make sure you have good insurance and if possible, keep dogs. In our area, dogs have repelled many burglars and I know people complain about them but they are good friends to have.

Barely a night goes by without a break in and I have noted the following:

they usually occur around 4am

don't trust hire car companies - I am sure they pass information on and everyone around here is told to give a false hotel address or to say your are touring when asked for an address in Spain. One company is connected with many break ins but I hesitate to name them here. Our president has established that in no less than seven recent break ins, all those victims of crime had rented from the same Alicante Airport car hire firm.

[Nalle]

Unfortunately. we will probably be looking at an increase in burglaries.
As more and more building workers gets layed off. A lot of these are marrocans and rumanians with no options on the labour market, and they all have to eat.

Fortunate though, that these are usually not violent, as some gangs from east europe might be.

An alarm will cost you around 30-50 € a month for a normal house. I can recommend Prosegur. They will do a free estimate for you.

Security grills is also good. Remember that most thiefs are opportunist. and usually just see the purse on a table just next to a window, an open front door.. etc etc.

But it doesnt matter whatever you do, IF someone wants to get in, he will get in. They can rob banks, so therefore they can rob at your place too.

Crimerate in Torrevieja have gone down over tha past years according to statistics form the Guardia Civil.

Some areas are better than others. if you live in an urbanisation with hardly any neighbours, be extra careful.

Get a rottweiler

[Chrisdee]

Unfortunately. we will probably be looking at an increase in burglaries.
As more and more building workers gets layed off. A lot of these are marrocans and rumanians with no options on the labour market, and they all have to eat.

Fortunate though, that these are usually not violent, as some gangs from east europe might be.

An alarm will cost you around 30-50 € a month for a normal house. I can recommend Prosegur. They will do a free estimate for you.

Security grills is also good. Remember that most thiefs are opportunist. and usually just see the purse on a table just next to a window, an open front door.. etc etc.

But it doesnt matter whatever you do, IF someone wants to get in, he will get in. They can rob banks, so therefore they can rob at your place too.

Crimerate in Torrevieja have gone down over tha past years according to statistics form the Guardia Civil.

Some areas are better than others. if you live in an urbanisation with hardly any neighbours, be extra careful.

Get a rottweiler

Ha Ha, who needs a rottweiler when you have a Spanish mother-in-law?
I like to think the dogs next door to me that everybody complains about are our security. You always know when somebody is loitering about, and if they persist in barking, us or the owners check it out. I do have a house alarm and I use it when we sleep, just alarm downstairs. You can only do your best and as you say, ensure you have a good insurance. Keep safe.

[JulieN]

We had another load of break ins last night and a stolen car as well. The burglars found the car keys during the burglary. That's now seven in three nights and I reckon that worse than back home by a long chalk.

[Chrisdee]

We had another load of break ins last night and a stolen car as well. The burglars found the car keys during the burglary. That's now seven in three nights and I reckon that worse than back home by a long chalk.

that's terrible and I'm sorry to hear it, where abouts are you on the OC?

[benimar_col]

don't trust hire car companies - I am sure they pass information on and everyone around here is told to give a false hotel address or to say your are touring when asked for an address in Spain. One company is connected with many break ins but I hesitate to name them here. Our president has established that in no less than seven recent break ins, all those victims of crime had rented from the same Alicante Airport car hire firm.

im interested n this comment as a visitor around 12 times a year i use certain websites that sub contract cars, i use of of the companies who are in both lounges at Alicate + Murcia, would it be these or the tatty ones in the car parks ?

[JulieN]

im interested n this comment as a visitor around 12 times a year i use certain websites that sub contract cars, i use of of the companies who are in both lounges at Alicate + Murcia, would it be these or the tatty ones in the car parks ?

Think of the Spanish word for SUN and add the Spanish word for SEA - then add 'car hire' - hope that is a good enough clue. They operate from within the arrivals area.

We are openly advising people to never give to a car hire company the address you are staying at in Spain.

Options:

1. give a hotel address
2. give your bank address minus the bank's actual name
3. say you are touring

We are convinced there is a tie in between many break ins and car hire companies.

[benimar_col]

[QUOTE=JulieN;19245]Think of the Spanish word for SUN and add the Spanish word for SEA - then add 'car hire' - hope that is a good enough clue. They operate from within the arrivals area.
QUOTE]


thanks for that, not the one i use which is good news

[JulieN]

Still suggest the address trick when booking though.

[benimar_col]

i will bear that in mind in future, tyvm Col

[JulieN]

Well, another night of it last night and in the rain as well. Near neighbour wakes up to find burglars in house. He catches hold of his baseball bat (we all keep them at our bedsides just in case) and clobbered the burglar who jumped back out through the window and ran off. I reckon my near neighbour deserves a medal. Dialled 112 but 15 + hours on, we're still waiting for the police ! We are on our own out here and we are considering setting up our own patrols - cannot afford to employ them. One neighbour is talking of acquiring a firearm but not sure of legality but they are easily obtainable in certain bars in Torrevieja apparently ?

[Chrisdee]

Well, another night of it last night and in the rain as well. Near neighbour wakes up to find burglars in house. He catches hold of his baseball bat (we all keep them at our bedsides just in case) and clobbered the burglar who jumped back out through the window and ran off. I reckon my near neighbour deserves a medal. Dialled 112 but 15 + hours on, we're still waiting for the police ! We are on our own out here and we are considering setting up our own patrols - cannot afford to employ them. One neighbour is talking of acquiring a firearm but not sure of legality but they are easily obtainable in certain bars in Torrevieja apparently ?

Apparently, the way it works here is, if someone breaks into YOUR house, you catch them, you beat them up, they sue YOU, you are liable for all the hospital costs, the lot, that's if they report it. The Spanish will tell you to kill them and dump them on waste ground. I can't even think about doing something like that and have never heard of anybody doing it either. I wouldn't go the gun route but I would definitely have the pepper spray or CS gas at the ready, as I have. You can buy these down in the Ferreteria in Torrevieja by Queen Burger.
Where abouts are you exactly?

[JulieN]

I live on one of the estates behind the Andreu Brothers fereteria on Orihuela Costa.

[Chrisdee]

I live on one of the estates behind the Andreu Brothers fereteria on Orihuela Costa.

I thought that area was pretty much established and one of the safer places, sorry to hear you are having so many problems, hope you have an alarm and that you keep safe.