Boletins

We appear to have a problem of repeated break ins at DV.

I received a phone call Friday to say my apartment was broken into between 1615 and 1700 on Friday 7th Sept. I am in block 8 ground floor overlooking the gap to the pool between blocks 3 and 4.

They appear to have climbed onto the terrace levered up the shutters and forced the patios doors open. The safe was levered out of the bedroom cupboard and stolen together with cash and a computer belonging to my tenant who was only out for less than an hour.

I spoke to my tenant yesterday and he told me there had been number of break ins with the same approach (MO). He believes that somebody onsite is watching for opportunity to do this and has told this to the Gaudia who came out to look at the problem.

I have been told there are a number of posibilities (option 2 is currently thought to be most likely) :-

1. people working on site

2. people living on site (this may even be somebody who has rented for the specific purpose of commiting buglary)

3. somebody driving in etc.

So please keep watch when you are there and know your neighbours if possible.

I know it late but I will be fitting locks to the middle of my patio doors.

Hi Jeff

Sorry to hear about your burglary.  It was mentioned at the AGM that the barrier was constantly raised and several owners asked for it to be lowered as we are all issued with remotes to open this.  Each time we have been over, we've noticed that the barrier is constantly in the raised position so it does not appear that this is locked at all.  We have sometimes arrived in the early hours of the morning to find the barrier 'open'.  The security guard has never stopped us either.  Something certainly needs to be done regarding security!!!

So sorry to hear of your break in, things like this really unnerves me, it puts me off coming out by myself.

Jeff, being in a ground floor apartment ourselves, I'm really concerned to read this.  This is the first I've heard of any break-ins at DV.

We have put locks on all our windows - and also have other security installed - but I think that we will most certainly be installing an alarm system next time we are there.

I can say that we had an incident in our apartment the first morning after my son and I arrived in DV, but won't go into it here as it's a big long winded!  But it scared the life out of me, hence all the locks, etc., in our apartment now.

What does RyF/AEA have to say about this?  RyF are obviously responsible for all workmen on site and AEA for the security (through the community).  I don't believe the barriers at the entrance being up or down have a real impact on this situation - if someone wants to break into an apartment, they will do it.  The barriers would only be effective if manned 24/7 and all residents/guests asked for some sort of ID or something, particularly bearing in mind that there are many people renting out their apartments, so they will have people turning up who at all times who do not have the remote to raise the barriers.  But bearing in mind you can access the development from other areas (the broken fencing on the 6th fairway of the golf course comes to mind!!), again, not really a factor!!

Maybe, as a community, we should request 24/7 security - by a reputable firm?  I know we are all insured for contents, etc., but what price for peace of mind and security??

Hi Jan

The broken fencing on the 6th fairway of the golf course comes to mind,

When we were out in July, Dennis and Paul went for a walk and they went throu the broken fence and walked all the way down to the Port, so if you can get down that way it means anyone can get up that way, and as you say it's very worrying.

Where did you get the extra security from and what did you get?

Maureen

Hi Jeff, sorry to here that

I would be in total support for 24/7 security.

I myself have a ground floor apartment and found a builders pallet lent up against the terrace wall one night which wansnt there before.  It had obviously been used or planned to be used to gain access to the terrace.  I feel like i am just waiting for a break in to happen and feel unable to avoid it.

Can anyone provide details of extra security measures they have taken and let me have contact details.  I would very much aprreciate this and other may fond it beneficial so we can create an options list of things people might want to consider.

Steve

From our side, and it's a little flimsy to say the least, but we have put bolts on the outside sliding windows and have put wooden poles between the inside sliding windows and the frame.  So basically, it would take a little time to loosen the outside sliding window and break the bolt and the inside sliding window can't move because the wooden pole is in place and stops the window opening.  Primitive, but (hopefully) effective!  Hopefully, we'll get the alarm system installed sooner, rather than later - but then that has to be linked to the security to be effective, because by the time the alarm goes off, it only takes minutes for a burglar to take what they want and get out of there, so if it wasn't linked to the security system in force in the development then it would be rather redundant!

Oh, the joy!!

Hi

Due to the recent events, concerning the burglaries, was wondering if anyone has been allowed to install any  security measures on the balconies , ie security bars on the ground floor apts?

Hi

Due to the recent events, concerning the burglaries, was wondering if anyone has been allowed to install any  security measures on the balconies , ie security bars on the ground floor apts?

We were in DV in Sept and noticed 2 cars drive in and 4 Spanish men go to the tennis courts, play for a considerable time and then leave the site.  So tennis facilities appear to being used by non residents.

Anna

The men who played tennis may work for RyF, and they pay half the community fees at present. We need to get car reg. numbers and report to AEA, police perhaps.

With regards to the alarm system the RfY brochure for DV  clearly states

" pre-installation for alarm system". 

 Does anyone know what this pre-installation comprises and how it might be connected? 

We have installed secuirity locks on the windows but not sure how effective these are. From experience in the UK the most effective approach to reduce crime is CCTV. Maybe strategically placed cameras around the complex would help. Is it   worth asking AEA to get some quotes, maybe the cost divided by 600 apartments would be more cost effective than indivuiduals installing their own alrm systems,  be more effective in fighting crime and provide better security. This could be proposed to the community. The screens could be installed in the security lodge. Just a thought, CCTV is realtively cheap these days. There is a downside, human rights and all that.

We have a ground floor apartment and the low balcony walls are a concern to us too!  We have thought of the security grills used on windows n villas etc and wondered if we could get a bulk quote for those owners who have a need for additional security.

It's an interesting idea of using CCTV.   It may be a cost effective solution too,  as  AEA who have to man the premises might be able to make operating savings  using it.

n.b. Is the total number of apartments 600 or 750?  Someone previously advised me it was 750. And they certainly brings down the cost per apartment.

In the long term we ought to be able to negotiate insurance cost reductions off the back of it too.

I had someone remove my remote and other personal items from my car in the garage (my fault for not locking the door) but I also think the doors leading to the garage should be closed every time someone uses it. This goes for all the blocks that are connected, I’m a permanent resident and I just think that the guard is a waste of money. I keep looking out for any suspicious individual lurking around. As someone mentioned in one of their post, there are many apartments that are rented out and I’m not sure if everyone knows what the code of conduct that has been stipulated by AEA. They should consider visitor passes for anyone who is a visitor to the DV; I guess this is something to look at towards the future for the guard. There are a few vulnerable areas for burglars to enter the complex (mainly on foot).

Alex

That's expensive.  Replacement garage remotes cost 42 Euro from AEA.

What's more it now means that the thief has means to enter the site through the barrier at night !

Maybe we should get the barrier and our remotes re-programmed?


I sort of had my remote  stolen too having left it in my hire car and the hire car company had no record of it being handed in.

You can't really prevent people from entering the garage. 
It's worrying that thieves are even searching garage areas for unlocked cars.
It's starting  to appear that these thieves are everywhere.
I've seen recent reports in Sunday news papers that Spain is the worst EU country for tourists being ripped off.
And strangely it seems that they will steal almost anything they can get their hands on.

It was expensive considering the other items that I had to replace, but I have a feeling that it could also be someone who resides in the DV I could be wrong about this but is just a feeling I have. Anyone who wants to enter the DV all they have to do is honk their car horn and the security bar will be raised and for entering the garage they could only enter my garage. During the summer there was loads of people on the DV and that is when it happened also the garage remotes can be reprogrammed for other garage but that needs to be done via R y F I believe. In any case we have to keep our eyes out, the other night there some kids throwing sun beds in the main pool I had to get up to ask them to keep it down not sure what the security guard was doing but he was no around that night otherwise I would have expected him to say something to the kids. I feel the burglaries are inside jobs.

Alex

Alex,

I can understand your sentiment about the possibility of it being someone renting.   Some occupants certainly don't exhibit any community spirit. Whilst at DV in July there were a four men renting an penthouse apartment in block 8.  they got very drunk one night and started throwing the beer glass from their balcony on to the road.  This stopped fairly prompted when another resident shouted something.

Although I've never seen any suspicious persons about in phase 1 or 2 area, only residents, cleaners and ground keepers,   I guess any theives are in and out quickly.

If I ever do see any one acting suspicously I'll take their photographs.

It might be helpful for all robberies to be reported to A.E.A.  so that they can compile a schedule.  It gives then an opportunity to observe any patterns and provide owners with alerts.

I'll set up an Alert/prevention page on wetpaint too.

Hi

I contacted RyF re the pre-installation for the alarm system and here is the reply (positive, for once, I think!!):


Dear Mr. Beaumont:
In Duquesa Village all the apartments have the pre-installation of the alarm system for the clients to finish it with the company the prefer to use. The way to identify it is:
- the board of the alarm system - identify a round cover at the entrance of the apartment
- the batery of the alarm system - identify a squre white cover in the wardrobe of the main bedroom
- the sensors of the alarm system - identify the round cover on the lounge and main bedroom
for further information, please contact our sales department: Maria Luisa ( maguyandres@rosyfalcon.com )
regards



So at least it is confirmed that the "pre-installation" is there!  So, if interested, we just have to get a company to install an effective system!  But, as I've said earlier, an alarm system is really on beneficial if linked to another security system in force, eg the guard at DV or another local security unit, which can react to an alarm within a short period of time.

In today's newsletter from EOS there was an interesting article about what looks like a great deterrent - a system which releases a smoke screen.  If you haven't read it already, have a read - looks really effective!