Oh so that is still going on then? Our friend had hers snatched in Feb last year in almost the same place, we had just left them and it happened in seconds. She had her money, keys, camera, mobile and credit card in her bag -just been to pay for her engagement ring! I didn't take a bag out after that.....We have been going for a few years and it does seem to be increasing. It is not going to stop us it is just as likely to happen in a street here!

wouldnt it be nice to tempt them and let them steal a bag......with a mouse trap in it !!!! that would serve them right, my pal got mugged in spain and broke her jaw and collar bone when she hit the ground, what gives them the right to steal other peoples things it makes me SO angry

A friend of ours also had her bag snatched in Candolim last February. It was quite late at night and she was with her husband and some friends. She was shook up and very bruised as she tried to hang on to her bag. Same thing (2 men on a motorbike). A local Goan friend said sadly it's happening more and more. I now put my bag strap over my shoulder and cross it over my body and get my hubby to walk on the road side. Take care everyone! Tracy

Terrible. Thank god its never happened to me.
I dont know if your instincts kick in and it makes you want to hold onto your bag? But if it ever happens to me (god forbid) I hope I NEVER try holding onto my bag. What for? To get dragged along the road by a motorbike - no way. Your own health and safety is worth more than a mobile phone and a few hundred rupees.
P.S. Gentleman should always walk on the outside, its curteous - my dad told me that years and years ago when I was a wee girl.

This happened to my wife and I,about 5 years ago, on the road from the Sonesta Inn, Candolim. Not a lot was taken but what was more annoying was the attitude of those wonderful Goan Police. We had to bribe them , or give them money so we could get a report off them for the insurance. If it had not been for our rep. Anthony , the best rep. I have met anywhere in the world, I would have given up. Anthony being a Goan threatened, argued ,told them they were useless and lots of things I did not understand, but we got a report.

Its one of the few times I have appreciated a rep. Anthony is still working for Sita Travel(Kuoni), a good friend who we meet every year, and still looks after us.

I think my friends had trouble with the police wanting a bribe. I hope I never need them whilst I'm out there!

oh dear denham. That must have been so upsetting. Having travelled to several mugging hotspots I now don't have money in my bag( not much anyway), don't take designer bags and basically only have things like a comb and lipstick in it. Even so, I would be very upset with the act of mugging itself.

But to make things worse it cost us £70 for the safe to be broken into . Hotel manager did not give us a recipt as he said we did not need one to claim on insurance, but we asked holiday rep and he gave us a letter to confirm we had paid the manager the money. So we are now waiting to see if we get any compenation from insurance company, for items lost and the £70 as well. Thanks for all your replies, denham.

That`s terrible, hope things get sorted for you, Goa police are a disgrace I use a money belt all the time and it goes under the mattress while i`m asleep, a good tip from my backpacking days.