Veronica

Hi Alf

Just seen your post. A bit worrying - I'm moving in to my house on R7 in a week or so. Having grilles fitted on day 1, so hopefully will deter any opportunists. Do you know if the break-ins were on occupied or unoccupied buildings, and did they have grilles? I am a bit surprised as I thought security was good [alarms, patrols] but the windows have no proper locks and the shutters are plastic.

Hopefully as owners we can pressure La Finca to have better security - barrier and proper patrols. Does anyone know if the alarm systems fitted are any use?

We are on RC3 so have been established for some time.  My understanding is that one of the properties broken into was an occupied place where the owners had gone out for the evening so someone is obviously watching.

One of the important things to push for is all the gates providing access into your community being put in place quickly.  This area did not have all their gates in place and so access from the road was easy.

I understand that the alarm systems are not that effective and that if you have them enabled you then have to ensure you have a key holder on sight for any false alarms (of which there can be many)

 Peter C    I have a property on La finca and have spent the last 6months over there and my experience is that if you are in your property then that is the time when you are most likely to be broken into as you have all your valuble items with you like credit card,mobile phone, passport,money,cameras, etc,etc so this is the time to be more aware.Also be careful not to leave your windows open as it is quite easy for the unsavoury characters about to gain access to your valuables with what is know as the fishing rod technique, Also make sure when you go out that you  dead lock the front door as it is quite easy to gain entry and you may find any insurance claim may be invalid. If you find yourself locked  give me a call and i may be able to save you a great deal of money as a locksmith will charge you 150euros for a five minute job. You will also find that most breakins occur at the beginning of completion when new people are moving in and are at their most vulnerable and not really wise as to what is going on in the area, as they are so ivolved with moving into their new home it is quite easy to forget about security, having said that all in all if you are aware of the problems which arent as bad as you may think you will have a great investment and nice holiday home to enjoy, I have not yet had security grilles fitted but have inside security measures installed and have actually had one breakin foiled but i am not getting too complaicant yet heres hoping.

          HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL .......................

Thanks for the responses. We have been over to La Finca for a three week stay - no obvious problems, break-ins, etc. Quite a lot of shifty looking 'workmen' about - when we went out at night we left the lights on, and always used the grilles, alarms, etc. The security patrols seemed to have got fewer - when we were out in January there were two female security guards who were always travelling about, but didn't see them this time. Did see quite a few Policia Local patrols though, and one morning a police car was parked at the entrance and the officers were thoroughly checking all the vehicles and occupants as they drove past.

Thought we had avoided crime, but on a visit to Alicante a family of  rogues attempted to steal my wife's handbag - using distraction techniques while I was away for a few minutes. They failed - we recovered the bag intact a short distance away, but it was close. It's a great pity these things are allowed to go on - they can sour everything. Too few police I think to deal effectively with what is a major problem.

You just have to accept the situation, and keep your wits about you all the time.

I hear today that one of the banks was broken into during Wednesday evening, access was gained through one of the empty units.

Regards

alf

On a more serious note, I have just learned that it was in fact the Banco de Valencia which was burgled on Wednesday night. No details of what, if anything was taken at present. More updates when info becomes available.

Richard