[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I’m researching the subject of burglaries and home security in Spain.

I’d like input from any Brits / Irish who have been victims of break-ins or attempted break-ins in Spain, or who have something relevant to say on the subject.

Send me a PM if you think you can help.

Thanks

Mark

[katy]

The last person to be caught committing a crime on my street was actually the security guard who was employed by the residents. Crime is not as bad as it seems from reading the UK papers, I never have to lock my car.

[Anonymous]

My friend has been burgled virtually every time they have been out on the CDS. Will get details maybe tomorrow definately Monday.

[Anonymous]

My business partner has an apartment in a complex just outside Marbella Town. They have been burgled 3 times during an 18month period.

1st time thieves stole the safe

2nd time they stole the car keys and the hire car

3rd time (due to the fact that all valuables are well hidden) they just stole a few shirts.

To counter these burglaries my partner has installed a security grille (burglars climb up the side of the building the apartment is on the 1st floor) and changed the locks on the door. Apparently it is common practice for builders to sell duplicate keys for front doors on new build developments to burglars.

Also lots of people on the development have been burgled.

Burglars target new builds because everything is new and the people are naive to the threat. (in our opinion)

What we could do with is a security advice company on the CDS to counter this threat. Something like Armadillo in the UK. I have searched for a similar company and have not found one, even looking for a company to fit security roller blinds is a headache.

[Anonymous]

Dear Gingerbear,

Any chance you could get in touch with me please, or have your business partner contact me? Just send me a PM with your contact details or an email to info@spanishpropertyinsight.com.

Anyone else got something to contribute on this subject? I’d really like to hear from you if you have.

Many thanks

Mark

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

Worried by the reply regarding keys for new build being sold on to burglars. Should we arrange to change the locks/door as soon as we complete?

We were over with our son and his grilfiend in September and they had ALL their belongings stolen from under their sunbeds when they fell asleep on the beach at Benidorm. Had to get a taxi back to the villa just in swimwear. Benidorm policestation was very busy, 4 other couples all reporting virually the same thing, it seems it is a daily occurence there!!

[katy]

The first time we bought in Spain the lawyer came with us to the locksmith and he came and changed everthing the first day we completed.

On the Costa Del Sol the worst places are the ones that are overtly tourist areas. Thieves know that holidaymakers are easily distracted. They(thieves) are only interested in credit cards and cash and most of the car break ins are on cars with a hire sticker in the back. Another bad place for robberies are golf courses, its suprising how many tourists think it is safer to take all their moneyand cards with them and tuck it in their golf bag.

Worst places I have heard here for crime is fuengirola, Calahonda and Puerto Banus but this is my perception, could be wrong.

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I feel i must contribute to this thread as I have owned properties on three Costas.
1) The Costa Blanca south, around Torrevieja is a built up place, but has lots of services, and is a nice place except for the MASSIVE crime problem. There are house breakins galore, muggings galore and you have to live like a caged animal at night to avoid the robbers. In my opinion this area is not safe for elderly people. The police cannot control the problem, most of it being caused by our eastern block and Morrocan friends with a little pilfering thrown in by the Brits.

This area has lots of new builds and you are correct with your analysis of keys and builders and new builds (Change the barrels in the locks on your first day).

They are also blighted by pros on ALL the roundabouts.

The area is now having its resale values affected by the crime and the reputation it is getting. I was robbed 4 times in my house, one involving a Ruski and a knife, all my neighbours were robbed, my car was stolen and I was mugged.

The CDS seems to me to be a milder form of the above, maybe because the Police are better organised. I walk around here with no problems, there has not been a crime on my urb for ten years! I have seen wallet snatchers in summer and i have heard of the odd mugging and I understand some of the Urbs full of brits away from the towns are prone to robberies (because of their ease to rob, many empty, lots of passages, slow response from Police). I have been watching Bravos Costa Del crime and I have seen more problems with drunks than robbers.

I think because most people want to live in spain for its obvious attractions it brings riff raff from everywhere to enjoy the same.

Thanks for reading

El Gamberro

[Anonymous]

Thanks El Gamberro (for all those who don’t understand Spanish this nickname roughly translates to The Hooligan).

Anyone else suffered or know anyone who has suffered from burglary in Spain?

Thanks

Mark

[katy]

It seems to be more muggings and oportunist theft than burglaries. they always seems to be more crime where builders/gardeners are around as they see the pattern of peoples lives.

Our first home here was on a touristy urbanisation in Banus and that had the odd theft through people going to the pool and leaving windows open. Since then we have only lived in residential areas and I don’t know anyone who has suffered. I do know of a few people who have been mugged though, particularly in Calahonda and my purse was once stolen in a shopping centre, was buying the sunday times actually!

[Anonymous]

I lived in Sotogrande and after two years left due to the unacceptable level of crime (not something you expect when you’re paying extortionate rents). In the summer of 2004 there were literally several hundred robberies. Gangs were breaking and entering between 5 and 10 properties per night. It was said that they were comprised of ex-military eastern europeans, but so often the finger is pointed at johnny foreigner.
I think sotogrande is the biggest scam on the CDS. It markets itself as some sort of wonderland, so it was very much in the authorities interests to keep all the criminal activity hush hush. You pay through the nose to live there, and its just not worth it when you cant sleep at night.
I think that there must be some great stories from Soto residents Mark.

I myself left soto feeling very lucky that I had not been a victim of crime myself, as so many of my friends had. That’s exactly how I felt when I left central London.

[Anonymous]

Is it possible to do a background check on who you are buying from? How would you go about this?

angela

[Anonymous]

Most break-ins appear to be by teenagers looking for cash.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you can change the lock of a new built. However if access is needed due to works post sales. How access can be made. Are you going to travel out to and if you are lucky to arrange an appointment with the builders there is no guaratee that he will turn up.

Isnt this the chill out life you wanted ?.

[Anonymous]

I live in a small hamlet in the compo, there are three Brit families, and the rest are Spanish, so we are the only foreigners.
In five years since we arrive, there hasn’t been one incidence of crime in our area.
We often go out for short walks or visit neighbours and leave our door open; also I frequently forget to take the keys out of the car on a night.
Don’t think I’m gloating; I truly sympathise with anyone that is a victim of crime, I just want everyone to know that all of Spain isn’t rife with crime; there is another side to the coin.

Regards, bri

[Author]

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