WANTED....3 BED APPARTMENT TO RENT.... Calahonda / Elviria area for Christmas

Hi Everybody, We have just returned from Senorio de Roda today. We are fairly new there, having only got completion on 18th September this year. We had a break-in on Wednesday about 6.30 pm. while we had just gone out for a couple of hours. The theives got into an upper window in our town house, from the opening on the stairs of the end appartments. They pulled the blinds back and forced the window. We had my mother staying with us, and like a lot of older people of her age, nearly 80, she doesn't believe in banks, so had brought a lot of cash and sentimental heir-loom jewelry with her, and after the theives turned all our cupboards out on the floor they found this and took it.

We have now arranged to have grills put on the upstairs windows as well as locks, and a safe to be concreted in the house.

We have been told by other residents it is unsafe even to leave windows with grills open, as ther is a gang of theives using fishing rods with lights, cameras and magnets attached, so don't leave valuables or keys where they might be got by this method about your houses or appartments.

When staying at your house or appartment, if everybody is extra vigillant for each others property perhaps these thefts will eventually stop, and perhaps we might be able to catch the thieves and hold them till police arrive. I am sure security will improve as more properties are occupied. It would have been nice if Piensa had made the windows as secure as the doors, theyare attractive windows but very shoddy, and certainly attract thieves.

Appart from the break-in we had a lovely time and the development is comming on well.Enjoy your properties but make them secure. Nigel and Sue 

Hi Susie & Nigel

Really sorry to read about your break in - suppose we are back to the scenario of them watching the houses again for people going out.  As you say the windows are nice to look at but don't provide much security (have you seen how easily they come out!)

Hope it didn't spoil your holiday too much.

Hi, unfortunatley whilst I was SDR last weekend I think there were 3 break ins reported in the townhouses.  A team of 3 were seen driving around during siesta time about 3pm in a clapped out silver car eyeing up the houses at the back of P1 apartments.

As the dark nights are creeping in we will all need to be extra vigilant and consider getting timers on lamps etc to make properties appear occupied as soon as it goes dark.

Amanda

Sorry to hear about the breakins.we have just had some window locks fitted to all the windows.is anybody having alarms fitted as well. with the townhouses what security have people used for the small balcony area as this appears to be a very unsecure area

jayne and phil

We had an alarm fitted straight away around 900 euros  if i remember and a security box sunk into the floor for valuables plus a few other smaller things. The windows are really very poor from a security point of view but the hinges are adjustable so the catch does grip better.

It is a good point that the darker nights are approching and we all need to be extra vigilant. Golf clubs and baseball bats at hand may also offer peace of mind for would be theives thinking of entering.

On my last visit at the end of August we had two cycles stolen from inside our enclosed, locked courtyard. Hopefully our new committee will add large spikes on top of the gates or barb/ security wire to the tops as they just jump over normally. Extreme yes , but does anyone else have any ideas.

It may not cost too much ( if everyone is on board ) to get a security company to patrol the area, this could get brought up at the meetings next week. I will myself approach Peinsa or the sales office staff when I return in a few weeks time.

All the best

Nick, Justine and William

Like your style William :)  Could be a touch (!) extreme but would sort them out!

I'm sure at one of the community meetings I went to someone mentioned employing a security company as it had worked well on another development. Might be something to consider for all the communities to fund together?  Worth thinking about dependent on cost, at least until all building work is completed when hopefully everything will calm down.

Jayne & Phil - if you look at the balcony doors at the back of some urbinas, you will see grills fitted inside. Although they aren't particularly attractive they do a good job of increasing the security & can be folded back & hidden behind a curtain when not required. We also had grills fitted on the outside of the back bedroom window as well as the window locks. You are absolutely correct in thinking that these areas are very vulnerable.

The problem with keeping an eye our for burglars is that although you see men driving aounrd in cars, you assume these are builders? 

Our townhouse is directly opposite the orange groves, and there doesn't seem to be anyone living there permanently, and when we last visisted (end of September), we were the only people there in the whole row, so an alarm seems a bit pointless.

William fitted a security grill on our balcony door and locks on windows in both bedrooms.

Anyone have any advise about safes?   

We think that having security guards patrolling the area is a very good idea.

Julie and Mick 

Hi William

Probably not what you want to hear, but I think we witnessed your bikes being nicked!

We are in Group 2 of the townhouses and in August at about 1.00a.m in the morning Susie saw a guy riding a bike and carrying a bike at the same time. He disappeared past the back of the Hacienda. As he looked very suspicious, I jumped in the car and drove round the other side of the Hacienda to try and cut him off, but no sign of him. I then drove virtually into San Javier on the back road, up to Dolores, and then around the development. At this point the trail went cold, so if they were your bikes I'm sorry I didn't nab him.

No point in reporting it to the police as I had no idea what he looked like as it was too dark, but it does beg the question what action anyone should take if they see something suspicious. Do we all know the number to ring and what if the response is in Spanish.......perhaps another one for the Community meeting!

John

It is hard with the majority of homeowners in the UK. We all need to keep vigilant when we are out there , I am only sorry I am not out now to attend the meeting we have been invited to to set up our community etc.

I hope the people who do attend try and get some things sorted and actions and suggestions  are posted on here then we can, at some point get together to discuss further.

The insurance have paid out on the bikes, Thanks for your "chase" , it is just a hassle as you say though.

When I reported the theft I went to the police station near the roundabout/plaza- the one that looks like a kiddies school!

They supply little pocket cards in there if I remember of contact numbers for all emergency services etc alternatively ring 112 you will get a english speaking operator and hopefully they would forward the call onto Los Alcazares local station. how fast they respond is another thing..

All the best N, J and W

When I disturbed thieves trying to steal our bikes from the courtyard P1 apartments back in July I contacted the Police, they arrived and told me to report the incident at  the Police station the following day in St Javier so you may be right. 

I couldn't go the following day because I didn't have a car but, I could have walked in to Los Alcazares Police station to report it, they informed me I must go to St Javier . I think the idea of a security guard paid for by all communities together is a good plan, maybe it can be discussed between the Presidents of each community? 

Hi Everybody,

When we had our break-in at the beginning of October, the police came out had a look at the mess left, they didn't take finger prints or anything, but they told us to go the next day to St. Javier police station to give them a list of what was taken, so that is definately the correct place to go to at present.

However we have been told that a newer bigger police station is to be built at Los Alcazeres and when this is complete it is to take in Roda, I don't know if all other services i.e. council etc will also be passed over to Los Alcazeres as well. We are next over at the beginning of December, and in between our daughter and son-in law will be staying at our house. All the best Sue and Nigel

More bad news on the burglary front I'm afraid, I've just received a phonecall from an apartment owner on P2 ground floor, last night either 2 or 3 of the apartments on P2 were broken into. They gained entry by cutting through the additional lock which was a kind of reinforced chain, they then prized the patio doors stole his Tv and riffled through the drawers and wardrobes he isn't sure what else has been stolen. 

Security is becoming a massive problem now that people have moved in, it's getting darker earlier and you can tell who is in and who isn't, it's just easy pickings for them.

Has anyone been into the office and made complaints, maybe if we got the local newspaper or the leader Costa Calida News etc to run a story.

I am sure that Peinsa will not want the adverse publicity especially with all the competition around.

Are there any permanent residents there who can do this until we all get there and we can all complain individually maybe run some type of petition etc we can all sign.

Timers on lamps maybe an idea as a short term measure. Be safe

N, J and W

please see thread posted 30/11/06