Security Precautions
Keep your gates, doors and security grills shut and locked if you are not actually in the room or even if you are on the terrace or patio.
Keep wallets and handbags out of view, as it only takes a thief one moment to step inside to take them or to "fish" them out through the grills.
When out of the house - IF YOU DON'T NEED IT, DON'T TAKE IT. Be especially careful at Street Markets - all of which have pickpockets.
Do not leave handbags casually on seats in bars and cafes.. Put one leg through the strap and place them between your ankles or knees.
Keep your car doors locked at all times. When parking, check that the windows are properly closed and bags, suitcases or items that appear to be valuable are not visible.
Be wary of strangers asking for directions, especially in Supermarket car parks and at Cash Points. In these situations thieves usually work in teams, so be alert at all times - DISTRACTION is their game. If you are in a car, lock the doors and try to drive away. Sound the horn if you feel threatened.
Do NOT take valuables to the beach. REMEMBER IF YOU DON'T NEED IT DON'T TAKE IT.
Use only licensed taxis, they display a Town Hall permit saying "licencia n_...." And an OFFICIAL TAXIMETER easily visible. Illegal taxis are uninsured and have not been inspected for safety.
Keep wallets and handbags out of view, as it only takes a thief one moment to step inside to take them or to "fish" them out through the grills.
When out of the house - IF YOU DON'T NEED IT, DON'T TAKE IT. Be especially careful at Street Markets - all of which have pickpockets.
Do not leave handbags casually on seats in bars and cafes.. Put one leg through the strap and place them between your ankles or knees.
Keep your car doors locked at all times. When parking, check that the windows are properly closed and bags, suitcases or items that appear to be valuable are not visible.
Be wary of strangers asking for directions, especially in Supermarket car parks and at Cash Points. In these situations thieves usually work in teams, so be alert at all times - DISTRACTION is their game. If you are in a car, lock the doors and try to drive away. Sound the horn if you feel threatened.
Do NOT take valuables to the beach. REMEMBER IF YOU DON'T NEED IT DON'T TAKE IT.
Use only licensed taxis, they display a Town Hall permit saying "licencia n_...." And an OFFICIAL TAXIMETER easily visible. Illegal taxis are uninsured and have not been inspected for safety.
The Neighbourhood Watch, in cooperation with the local police and the Town Hall, would like to draw your attention to basic security measures to enable you to have an enjoyable and trouble-free stay in Spain.
Emergency Telephone
112 (free)
112 (free)
Spanish, English and German spoken in many areas
Vecinos Cooperando
Neighbourhood Watch
Nachbarschaftswacht
Neighbourhood Watch
Nachbarschaftswacht
UPDATED Airport Security Alert
There have been reports that number plates of different nationalities have been removed from unattended vehicles.
Some years ago it was a simple exercise to obtain replacement or additional number plates from car spare parts shops without having to produce any vehicle documentation. This was also simple for criminals to obtain and fit false plates to vehicles . Today, the law requires the production of vehicle documentation before plates can be bought, so there is a demand for the supply of false plates for stolen cars being used for criminal activities. An easy answer for a thief is to steal them from unattended vehicles.
When this becomes general knowledge among the law breakers there will probably be an increase in the theft of vehicle number plates from properly documented vehicles for use on similar undocumented or stolen vehicles used in crime.
A simple deterrent would be to replace the screws securing the plate to the vehicle with nuts and bolts thereby making it more difficult to remove.
For further information, should you not have heard it, the Traffico Department of the Guardia Civil are conducting a trial throughout Spain into new camera and computer equipment carried in their patrol cars. A camera automatically reads the vehicle number plates of Spanish registered vehicles and immediately informs the agency of vehicles being used without insurance, ITV, if a vehicle has been reported stolen and other things. At present there are 12 so equipped cars in use throughout Spain including in the Valencia Region. It is planned to equip the others at the end of the trial. There is estimated to be about 400,000 vehicles in use in Spain without insurance.
Some years ago it was a simple exercise to obtain replacement or additional number plates from car spare parts shops without having to produce any vehicle documentation. This was also simple for criminals to obtain and fit false plates to vehicles . Today, the law requires the production of vehicle documentation before plates can be bought, so there is a demand for the supply of false plates for stolen cars being used for criminal activities. An easy answer for a thief is to steal them from unattended vehicles.
When this becomes general knowledge among the law breakers there will probably be an increase in the theft of vehicle number plates from properly documented vehicles for use on similar undocumented or stolen vehicles used in crime.
A simple deterrent would be to replace the screws securing the plate to the vehicle with nuts and bolts thereby making it more difficult to remove.
For further information, should you not have heard it, the Traffico Department of the Guardia Civil are conducting a trial throughout Spain into new camera and computer equipment carried in their patrol cars. A camera automatically reads the vehicle number plates of Spanish registered vehicles and immediately informs the agency of vehicles being used without insurance, ITV, if a vehicle has been reported stolen and other things. At present there are 12 so equipped cars in use throughout Spain including in the Valencia Region. It is planned to equip the others at the end of the trial. There is estimated to be about 400,000 vehicles in use in Spain without insurance.
Beware of the vehicle number plate thief.
El Consulado Británico en Alicante ha pedido a sus nacionales que se alerta sobre el momento de su llegada en el aeropuerto de El Altet, ya sea fuera de Alicante, Aeropuerto de San Javier en Murcia o fuera del aeropuerto de Manises Valencia debido al considerable aumento en el robo de equipaje. El problema parece haber crecido de tal importancia que ya en funciones en un consejo de viaje expedido por el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. El Consulado de manifiesto que la gente debe tener cuidado cuando vaya a recoger su coche de alquiler en cualquiera de estos aeropuertos, ya que pueden ser seguidas. Cuando los recién llegados a obtener el auto, ya descubrir que uno o más neumáticos son planos, y en la confusión de que se ofrece ayudar a sus equipajes desaparece.
El Consulado también informa de que en el E15, A7, A70 y N332 caminos principales, muchas personas han sido víctimas de personas haciéndose pasar por policías de paisano, y había robado de valor como resultado.
El Consulado y NHW hacen ver claro que en todos los casos relativos a incidentes de tráfico o de inspección, estos son sólo llevadas a cabo por miembros uniformados de la policía - ya se trate de la Policía Nacional, o más generalmente, la Guardia Civil.
El Consulado y NHW hacen ver claro que en todos los casos relativos a incidentes de tráfico o de inspección, estos son sólo llevadas a cabo por miembros uniformados de la policía - ya se trate de la Policía Nacional, o más generalmente, la Guardia Civil.