Break-ins common in new builds?

Ok Janice - which one is you? 

And there is no where discreet to hide your credit/debit cards!!

Oh, Cheers for the latest PM.

Ellen

Thanks for the advice Roberto,

I am half joking - does that make sense?  But the latest electonic gadget has never really interested me, so that part may be true - give me a good book any day!

I will protect me and mine, but I am not a violent person - far from it. 

I work in a sort of legal capacity, and appreciate that sometimes the would be victim may come off worse. 

I just wanted to lighten up this thread - and I hope the banter between Janice and I have done just that.

Selfishly, I hope that in some way this will help to protect my investment (my pension money), and not put people off buying property in Spain.

Also, I think that communities need to do more.  The winners here are the security companies - bet they are rubbing there hands together with glee. 

Perhaps San Miguel and I should start our own protection racket on our small developement.    Ok Brian?

Cheers

Ellen

Jeepers flippin creepers i dont know wheter to laugh or cry..... break-ins, cats getting shot, burglars pushed of balconys, men in masks, its just another day on coronation street.

Seriously im pretty hacked off, has no one told them if they come to the UK they will get a free house and thrown in pocket money.

Hi Tinasolera - I sincerely understand how you feel, me too, but I will not let them win.  Please dont allow this to get to you.  Good community relations - that should go some way to the good life.

Brian!  You coward!  We could clean up big time.  A big van full of scum, drive thru Spain and France across the channel - dump them in England - then you and Lorrain, me and Jim - peace in Spain.

Housing and pocket money - yep - dead right.

Burglaries are still happening in the UK too you know.

Difference is, in the UK, the police don't even bother to attend the scene. They expect you to report it at the police station, get a crime number and claim from your insurance.

All these horror stories about Spain puts many people off and just induces fear in new buyers.

Yes there are break ins in new builds, but that's because the burglars know there may be cash inside to pay for new furniture etc., definitely passports and maybe other small bits they can carry. But no different to the UK, when houses get robbed at Xmas when they know there are loads of goodies under the tree.

I think you will find the Spanish police more helpful than our local bobbies though.

So don't be put off by some of these posts, just be sensible about your security in Spain, just like you are here in the UK

I never thought for one second that there was no crime in Spain, i mean i didn't have visions of everyone gently chasing butterflies but in general i would have expected to feel safe alone at night and that vision doesn't exist right now.

Ive now got visions of men in masks creeping into my bedroom trying to steal my Nike's, followed by a big ginger cat with a machine gun aiming to blow his brains out, all the while some hoody is stood on my balcony filming this on his mobile phone ready for his happy slapping website only then to be pushed back over the balcony by a very petite lady who is extremely angry. And I don't blame her.

Life is wonderful.

Can I just say on a happier note for those poor souls who are going off the idea of Spain, that although crime is rife it doesnt happen everywhere. We moved into our new development earlier on last year and as far as Im aware there havent been any break-ins (touchwood) so far.   The only break-in I am aware of is when one of the owners  of our neighbouring development actually let a thief in via the intercom system claiming he had a delivery for a neighbour - how stupid was that, if the neighbour was expecting a delivery surely they would be there to accept it??  Once again it is a case of being vigilant.

We have friends with propertys on the Costa del Sol between us here in Estepona and Calahonda/Mijas areas and none of them have been affected by crime. Some have places on gated developments with nightime security like ourselves, but then others have villas protected by just a gate,  yes they have taken security precautions but even then not quite as full on as you Janice!! 

So please dont be put off, yes it does happen - but then again not everyone is a victim, hope this helps.

rgds Hobbys wife

All over the world you will find people who will take advantage of an easy way to make money, whether it’s robbing a new build in Spain or taking cargo off a beach in the UK.  If you make it easy then they will take advantage. On this forum you will find ways to make it as hard as possible for those people to take your belongings, grills, new locks, alarms and thinking about were you leave your positions, preferably out of sight!

The Costa’s are full of people from all over the world and some of them are not as honest as you or me and will take advantage, given the opportunity. The most important thing to remember is; why did you go over to Spain? Well that has not changed and as soon as the new Urbs settle down and more residents move in, the less crime there will be.

So don’t panic at the posts that you will find on this and other forums. Information is a wonderful thing, you can’t get enough of it, but how you use it is the important part!

Sping..

Hi Janice I think Mrs Hobby was referring to puss in boots (or should I say puss in combat fatigues with his AK 47) posted guard on the terrace - certainly the way I read it anyway.

And Mrs Hobby you should know better than to tempt providence like that - God I hope that when he gets here In Feb for his golf break all is tickety boo otherwise you will be for it.

Well now that im beginning to get over the shock of all this i still plan to have a great time with my family living in Spain but due to this thread and other articles ive just had to re-think a few things & make some changes.

When Parador first asked me if i wanted a quote for an alarm back in September I replied..... NAH what do i want one of those for??? Now im going to order 5. (joke)

Hi Janice

Smiley was right, I was referring to the cat-mafia - maybe i should have put a couple of smiley faces up!! I fully appreciate you have taken all the measures you feel you need to and I sincerely hope they keep the buggers out, I didnt mean to offend you, enough with the grovelling methinks

And yes smiley, I do hope i havent tempted fate, hubby seems confident that our development is secure and having a first floor apartment has given him a (hopefully not false) sense of security!! I think he's more concerned with the 'bandits' on the golf course (they play for a small wager- if you get my drift!).

rgds mrs Hobby