NEW-Herrada Site

CRIME IN LA HERRADA

There is no getting away from the facts. Although the level of opportunistic crime on the Urbanisation had dropped significantly and is far lower than in the UK, we still need to be alert and report suspicious activity to the Policia Local. [Tel: 966 721 525]

Reports show that the police respond promptly to calls from victims, BUT are rarely able to do anything other than officially record the incident, including the descriptions of suspicious people and the numbers of suspicious cars.

So what has been happening? We have established from the many reports (which have now become too numerous to record on the "NOTICES!" page of this website!) that the vast majority of break-ins are opportunistic in nature. Here are some examples:

1) Upper apartment, mid-afternoon. Visitors went up to the solarium to sunbathe, leaving doors of the apartment unlocked. Thieves climbed onto the patio from the stairs and helped themselves to passports, cash, cameras, etc. Incredibly, other residents were at home on both sides of the street with their cars parked outside; no-one noticed anything. Such is the skill of these robbers. (it is thought that one of this team was signalling "all clear" with an umbrella, but this was not realised until later after the robbery had happened).

2) Villa, around about midnight. Owners holidaying. Two adults and children sleeping in the bedrooms. The robbers used a long pole with a hook to lift keys through an open window. A laptop computer was taken amongst other items. No-one heard a thing.

Further examples, of the many available, are not needed to illustrate the point. It is HOLIDAY SEASON again and the thieves are out in droves! When the urbanisation was young the principal culprits appeared to be of Morrocan descent. Since the opening up of Western Europe to the Eastern bloc countries descriptions of the criminals is becoming increasingly "of Eastern European appearance".

And so what can be done? The best and only practical advice is to be extra vigilant during the holiday months - roughly from May to October. Here are some habits you can adopt, whether resident or visitor, which will make it more difficult for these people:

1) Never leave windows, doors, blinds and grills open - or unlocked - when you leave your villa or apartment, even if you are just popping out to the local supermarket, or to visit a neighbour.

2) When you are at home, or going to bed, do not leave keys or other valuables in view through windows. Put them into sideboards, cupboards, drawers, under the beds; anywhere, just so long as they are out of sight.

3) Keep an eye out for suspicious people who appear to be sizing up properties. They may just be house-hunters; but remember, house-hunters usually have an agent with them. And they don't look away when they see you have noticed them!

4) If you are a visitor (to your own property, or if you are only renting) make sure you are not observed when you first arrive - whether from the airport by rental car or by taxi. Your suitcases are a dead give-away and many of the burglaries reported have occured within the first 3-4 hours of arrival. Why? Because the first thing people do after arrival is go to the shops to buy the basics for the refrigerator! Always let just ONE person do the shopping and don't leave the property unattended for the first few hours.

If you follow the above advice you could save yourself many frustrating hours trying to explain what has happened (in Spanish, to a Spanish-speaking policeman who will not be totally sympathetic!) why you need a new passport.