[Anonymous]

The future of the financial aspect of the Spanish property will be down to market forces.
However taking a longer view there may be a hidden evil that may have as much a profound effect if not corrected.
I keep reading more and more cases of breakins just after owners have left having had a holiday in their property.
Some feel that they must have been watched and accordingly are bound to consider if the burgulars were tipped off.
Does anyone wish to put their points of view to what has been an important factor of many when moving from crime ridden U.K to Spain.

Frank 8)

[Anonymous]

On our first visit to Spain after purchasing, our agent spoke to us about the security. We thought it was pretty safe because of the shutters, especially when they are down. Or agent then proceded to give us a demonstation of how easy it was to remove a window or patio door, with the shutters down and minimum of noise!! Window locks fitted the next day.

We were also told that cash is the main object of thefts as it is “personless”. What I mean is that if someone is caught with your passport or credit cards, they are bang to rights. If however you have a pocket full of cash, it is difficult to prove you are not its’ lawful owner.

Mark

[katy]

I believe that most burglaries are carried out by people (or friends of theirs) that are working on or near the site. I have heard so many stories of Security men being caught in many different urbanisations.

Eg. There were a few break-ins in my area, an established mainly spanish residential area. The man was eventually caught…he was the nightwatchman on the Santa Maria Village building site! Likewise with construction workers, gardeners etc. They notice the pattern of people’s comings and goings. A friend who lives near Banus did not have a problem for 4 years. Work started on a site across the road, A few weeks later she left at 3.30 to pick up her Daughter from school and when she returned at 4pm the house had been burgled…just a bit too much coincidence.

[Anonymous]

Katy 🙂
That fares well with everything I have heard as its always the new developments or were there is building works going on.
Great you could put some balance to it and think you may agree that the forum members should encourage everyone that completes on a new property that the least they should do is CHANGE THE LOCKS.
These cases of break-ins have a habit of being exagerated out of contex as soon as the media get hold of it.
It can only be good if anyone can give advice as to various precautions that they have made.

Frank 8)

[Anonymous]

We would change the locks on any property new or old that we had bought no matter what country it was in. It’s common sense.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for that Claire 🙂
Priceless advice 😕 however you would be amazed how many feel that when they are given the keys to a brand new property they do not consider this “MAY NOT BE THE ONLY KEYS”
I have 3 good friends who are very sucessful businessmen who made this very mistake and 2 were broken into. 👿
Seems just like buying abroad some of the common sense we use at home seems to vanish when we get off the plane.
Any other insperational advice would be welcome 😉

Frank 8)

[Anonymous]

I think since the borders within Europe have opened, we are all going to experience a rise in crime – whichever EU country we’re living in. It is not just Spain. Where I am in Greece it was only a couple of years ago when people didn’t worry about locking their houses, let alone their cars. Now break-ins are a regular occurrence and it is just a fact that when anyone is arrested, they usually turn out to be someone employed in the construction field, and from Eastern Europe.

The police here have just arrested a group of these lads who split themselves into two groups – one group hanging around a local village popular with the Brits. for an evening dinner out who watch the cars/number plates of who is arriving. They then ring on their mobiles to their mates who have a list of which cars belong to which (now empty) houses, and they go along and break in. Mates back in the village can call them to warn them when the occupants have finished dinner. So like Katy’s example, they know the exact ‘window’ of when they are safe to break in.

The number of break-ins has escalated ten-fold in the last couple of years along with the increasing amount of construction/imported labour.
It’s now just become nastier – heard this week that some people, returning from an evening out, arrived home to find the robbers in the house. They were promptly threatened with a gun while they made their getaway. No-one was hurt thankfully but this new event has certainly suddenly made this whole crime thing more scary and on a new level.

The only houses they seem to avoid are those with dogs – thankfully we have two. They wouldn’t say boo to a goose, but do bark like mad at anyone coming near the house.

So in answer to Frank’s question, I think life as we all knew it has changed permanently when it comes to crime wherever we live in Europe – it’s not just a consideration if thinking of moving to Spain.

[Inez]

Breakins have been around since bewfore I moved here and in the past it used to be the gy[sies. Iremember my kids bikes being stolen from the front garden when they had left them to come in for lunch. Opportunist but we reckon they had been watching us and the bikes were quite new – xmas pressies from grandparents.

A dog definately keeps them away – its the noise alerting anyone and with our dog , apart form the bikes we never had any problems.

I know may who have been broken into – a lot are holidaymakers just arrived and leave the door shut but not double locked – easy to slip open with a bit of plastic. And the same as you Frank – not changing the keys when everyone has had access to the place!

[Anonymous]

Changing the keys is OK, in theory but as most of the snagging is done after completion the developers needs access to the property, plus the developers may need excess during the construction stage of other phases.

In my experience you cant even make an appointment to be there, as the developers never agree to make an appointment and even if you try they will agree to a time and no body will shows up. You may have flown from where ever.

[Author]

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