Just got back from 2 weeks in Sao Jao. We had a Villa from First Choice and despite our taking all the precautions available it was broken into with the loss of 2ks worth of stuff. And from the information I found we are not alone! I spoke to Police, off duty reps and locals and apparently this sort of thieft is leaping off the scale. My info tells me that although First Choice only offer 16 villas in the area they have had 15 robberies from them this season. The police told me they are getting 3 reports a night on average just on theift from property.
Why so many? It appears that the police are aware of increasing crime and are stepping up patrols and coppers on the streets. This is forcing the theives to look elsewhere. The locals know this and are putting in alarms, security fencing and steel shuttering on their homes. But the travel groups and the property owners they rent our rooms/apartments and Villas off are doing nothing.I honestly have better locks on my garden shed than I had in this Villa and the safe was so small our valuables wouldnt fit in it. This makes us a soft target and the people we entrust with our safety know this and are not too bothered because its easier to let us claim on insurance than it is to upgrade the security on our package accomodation.
After we were robbed we were moved. I went back to the old Villa to see what repairs had been done. None! All that had been done was the lock that had been broken on the patio doors had been refitted. Not replaced....just refitted!
Would any of us mind a few more quid on the price of the holiday for better security? We will be paying it anyway next year...on higher insurance.
Dadsalaff, I am so sorry to hear about your terrible experience, it must have been awful. I am sick to death of these petty thieves and the distress they cause to others. We keep hearing about it more and more and until the Police take a tougher stance, sadly it will continue.
Barcelona is a prime example where pickpockets are absolutely rife. Just go to google and key in Pickpockets Barcelona and you will be amazed to read all the scams and how often it goes on. These scum of the earth just prey on tourists. What do the Police do? Give them a ticking off and an hour later they are back on the Streets. No matter how prepared you are they can still strike, as we know only too well (fortunately they got nothing from us)
Yet a different story in Munich last year. We had the pleasure of a nice half hour conversation with a Policeman who came to offer us help as we were stood reading a Street map. Think he really wanted to practice his English though
Anyway, we got speaking about crime and he said they will not tolerate it in Munich, there is a great police presence which incidentally, we noticed as we got off the train in Munich station.
Sadly though as you say, the thieves now move to other areas where they know tourists go/stay. I totally agree though, the owners of these villas now need to be doing more to increase security.
Hope you soon get over your ordeal and get full recompense from your insurance.
Good luck
Barcelona is a prime example where pickpockets are absolutely rife. Just go to google and key in Pickpockets Barcelona and you will be amazed to read all the scams and how often it goes on. These scum of the earth just prey on tourists. What do the Police do? Give them a ticking off and an hour later they are back on the Streets. No matter how prepared you are they can still strike, as we know only too well (fortunately they got nothing from us)
Yet a different story in Munich last year. We had the pleasure of a nice half hour conversation with a Policeman who came to offer us help as we were stood reading a Street map. Think he really wanted to practice his English though
Anyway, we got speaking about crime and he said they will not tolerate it in Munich, there is a great police presence which incidentally, we noticed as we got off the train in Munich station. Sadly though as you say, the thieves now move to other areas where they know tourists go/stay. I totally agree though, the owners of these villas now need to be doing more to increase security.
Hope you soon get over your ordeal and get full recompense from your insurance.
Good luck
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