crime - Burglary

[Rosie34]

Steve - I read your first post with horror and I think thats maybe why some people could hardly believe it - it was just so frightening and unthinkable in Pp or anywhere.

I can understand if you dont ever want to go back - that experience would put anyone off, especially as you did all you could to make the apartment secure. Maybe with time you will feel differently.

I hope they do catch the gang as if they get away with it once, who knows

 

[siren73]

So, for the sceptics - I am sorry if my articulation makes this sound fiction!
Siren, Smiddy & Kate - you are welcome to a copy of the report! .

I would like to see a copy of this Police report before I post a retraction.

Do you also have a copy of any insurance claim ?

Thank You.

 

[pollensa]

I would like to see a copy of this Police report before I post a retraction.

Do you also have a copy of any insurance claim ?

Thank You.

As stated above, I agreed to verify this story. I have seen & read the Crime report, I know which apartment it relates to and have contacted the management company. The burglary took place as described by Steve. As also stated I cannot comment on anything to do with the children but the burglary did take place.

If you choose not to retract your comments, that is your decision.

 

[Chemical Dave]

I would like to see a copy of this Police report before I post a retraction.

Do you also have a copy of any insurance claim ?

Thank You.

Unbelievable. I am speechless.

Adios

Dave

 

[its cd]

It was a bit odd, people would really stare and without being crude - none british -

Steve

Sorry it was me who asked about the above comment not because I didn't believe the horrific story but because I hadn't realised you were saying the people who were looking at you were none British and also didn't understand what you ment by not being crude ..... I was concerned that our "passtime" of people watching could put people Ill at ease in that it is seen as a not very British thing to do

I guess the lesson for us all is to report anything that seems strange to the police and if they don't take it seriously then cite steves case and demand action

In relation to a previous comment do you think the people who broke in were the same people who were watching you and also the same people who looked Round the apartment ..... Assume there was something about their accents or looks that suggested they were not british .... Were they eastern european ...... I know it is wrong to generalise but we are over next werk and until these people are caught i want to know what to look out for





Steve[/QUOTE]

 

[Hannah70]

This is such an awful worrying thread. I am coming out in 6 days with my family and for the first time in 12 years I feel a little nervous about security etc.

Just a thought - if you think the people that viewed the apartment were part of the gang (I think you believe they may have marked the locks or something), then have you or the police gone back to the estate agent who showed them round. In my experience every time I have ever viewed a property either at home or abroad I have had to give personal details etc before making an appointment. Surely the estate agent must have some details, even if they are false. It should be a start. They should at least know what nationality the viewers were etc.

 

[lovemallorca]

Steve

I see that this happened back in May - What did the police do at the time, and what follow-up have you had?

You mention that a similar thing has happened to friends - Would you be able to provide details of that incident?

 

[suzystew]

We love Mallorca and have a property in the area. In May we were having a new dishwasher delivered, and because of this I unlocked the main gate.
My son who is disabled was watching the TV in our lounge, my husband and I were sitting outside just a few feet away from the front door, in the garden. It was a matter of only a few minute and I glanced to see a man coming out of our front door, and I screamed to my husband we are being robbed. He was in disbelieve and muttered, no, I continued and shouted. By the time we had reacted the guy was out of our gates and being driven by his mate who was obviously waiting in the car, at speed down the road.
What haunts us is that they moved my disabled son to look at the wall.
Now, to enter a house with a person in the lounge they must have watched us and realised my son could not react.
Our neighbour took my husband to the police station, and the police were wonderful. They visited us three times as they could see we were distressed.
Needless to say, our valuables disappeared but our shock was that, we were there, and they felt confident enough to enter our property.
Thanks to dear friends who live on the island and came to reassure us, we managed to enjoy some of the days left of the holiday.
I was not going to write on this web all about this: but I feel some people have doubted the printed story. I just wanted to say that these things happen, and they sound unbelievable but they are!!
I still believe that Mallorca is a superb place and in the past it appeared a place of innocence. Now it is no worse than anywhere else, but certain people have realised that there are easy pickings from tourists. I am not going to be put off, but I will just be aware and take extra precautions.
In fact when I told friends in the UK what happened they commented:- oh well it is just like the UK now.

 

[Serendipity]

Hi Steve & Everyone,

I'm so sorry to hear about your awful experience.....absolutely horrifying and the thought of children being targeted just petrifies me!! Makes me feel sick actually as I have a toddler.

Just to add my two penn'orth, we were in a private hired villa on the Pinewalk in June. It was a block of six and we were on the ground floor. We arrived like most on the Saturday as did everyone else in the block. On the Monday we spoke to one of our neighbours who was staying on the top (3rd) floor. There were six adults staying in their apartment (3 bedrooms) and they had been broken into on the Saturday night whilst they were all in bed. Luckily they had put all valuables into the safe and the ladies had taken their handbags into the bedrooms with them so don't think the thief took much. He didn't enter the bedrooms which is one thankful thing I guess.

The worrying thing is that he got in on the balcony....3rd floor! We know this because the couple staying with their baby and toddler on the second floor had seen a man climb up onto their balcony and go on to the one above. The lady who was burgled said she was sure there was something 'fishy' about it because they had made sure the patio doors were locked but apparently the picture window next to it had been left ajar. She said she hadn't checked it because she didn't even realise it COULD open.

Now I have to say I'm not into Conspiracy Theories but it does seem pretty odd to me that a thief would bypass the other apartments and head for this one in particular on the 3rd floor. Did he know that window would be left ajar?

This is very worrying BUT to put things into perspective, I have lived in my house for over 10yrs and it's a trouble free area.....until the last 6mths when three of my neighbours have been broken into in the middle of the night. SO, what I'm trying to say is that as others have said it seems to be happening everywhere and I guess the affluence of PP visitors and it's residents aren't going to escape it either. Just be as safe and careful as you would be at home and hopefully you'll have a wonderful holiday.

On a brighter note, it hasn't put us off and we're coming back out in September........Hmmmm.....wonder if I could smuggle a Taser out??! Lol **joke**

Take care all and I hope you all have a wonderful summer whether it be holidaying in the beautiful PP or living there (you lucky, lucky lot! )

xx

 

[susiejb]

Huge sympathy for you Steve,regarding the robbery, having experienced it ourselves we know the absolute horror of it, and the fact that it happened in your apartment is very scary indeed. I hope that the police do at least find those responsible and bring them to justice.

 

[cumberland8]

Unfortunately the family in the villa next to us were burgled last year in Pollensa we stayed in a villa opposite the old bridge for our last week there, the chap I spoke to felt they were being watched,there were reports of a gang from Eastern Europe residing in Palma who were caught, being responsible for many of the. Crimes around the port, but that was last year?

 

[Smiddy]

Having returned from a idylic month i must admit your story did seem suspicious, to say the least, we do get "wind-ups" from time to time, and your story did seem way too far fetched. Sorry for doubting you.

 

[Rangers1]

Im shocked by this thread for 2 reasons.

1. The whole event and how bad that was and i hope everyone is getting over it.

2. That people on here think they have the right to check crime reprots!!!

Gob smacked

 

[tanpug2]

A few of you asked about the police - they came out and finger priny tested the apt and found some good prints....they gave us some mug shots to view and my wife and I both idependently picked out the same 2 men (couldn't pick between them for the one we spotted) and it turns out they are brothers and known to the police! Obviously it wasn't enough to get them! We have had no other response nor anything thing found!
The other family I mentioned were there in June and got broken into during the night - cameras. wallets, phones etc, aparently 3 apt's got done wherever it was they stayed - only exchanged a couple of emails!
I like many of you do agree perhaps complacency was part of our problem - we noticed the people watching but did nothing - never ever dreamt it would happen there! It just raises your paranoia so much it kills your enjoyment........
I am staggered the police can't stop this gang!

Siren, moderator has the report - happy for you to have it! My insurance claim is frankly none of your business with tonnes of personal detail so no I will not give you that - suffice to say other than the list of stolen items what on earth do you expect to see - all items stolen are listed on the police report with values.
On insurance though - obvious as it sounds, really check your insurance!!! Mine is free with my bank - thing is though the level of personal item cover turns out is really low!! Nowhere enough and looking at a few stand alone products the medical side is good etc but whilst better than mine, some of the cheaper products don't offer great cover! Ended up having to use my home policy!

 

[kate1]

I am truly appalled by how widespread this level of crime seems to have become in PP very recently... I had no idea.

Steve, did the police give any indication whether the guys you picked out were Mallorcan? I suspect the Eastern European gangs don't stay in one place for too long. I have read that in Palma recently there have been a number of burglaries involving Rumanian gypsy gangs... They are very professional, and very quick. The person who came into our villa and took my bag must have been in and out in a matter of seconds - I was in the garden for all of a couple of minutes - didn't hear or see a thing.

That's a very good point about insurance. And do make sure you keep your receipts, everyone, as companies will not just take your word on what has been taken. We were told it was also a good idea to have a photographic record of all our valuable items.

You asked in your original post if anyone knew of a very secure apartment? Well, in your position I would certainly be looking for one with a communal front door which is kept locked at all times and which has a lockable gate to any outside areas. Plus shutters which can be locked. I don't think most apartments have burglar alarms although they are increasing in number. PP has been relatively crime-free for so long - we have all been a bit lax - time to tackle the problem, I think!

 

[Bosun]

Bit of a worry this. We fly Saturday and will be staying in a villa a little way off the the main port area. Still you can only take the right precautions and hope its enough to deter.

The inference in some of the posts is that there is/has been a spate of burglaries recently, do we know the scale of this spate? 1 per week, per day, 5 a month?

Everywhere experiences some crime, PP is no different. The danger is of course that 1-2 nasty crimes, unpleasant and frightening as they are, can suddenly become a major crimewave due to Chinese whispers etc. The last thing the good folk of PP want during a hopefully busy holiday season.

I note the warning and the advice, forewarned is forearmed.

 

[tanpug2]

Kate - the guys we picked were local thats all the police said - whether that means they are Majorcan or just live there I don't know! The people we had photo us and who had been on the beach in front of the apartment til the crime were a middle aged couple and they sometimes had a child with them - the most distinguishing thing was the male was (or appeared to be) a lot older than the women. The woman had long dark curly hair! There was also a tall plump guy who looked spanish with longish hair and a moustache - all of them always had really smart clothes on! The 2 we picked out were early 20's I'd guess with short dark hair and dark skin, about 6ft and well built.
I know the lady from Help Unlimited who helped us (they were simply great) said there is a gang that has been operating there for a couple of years. It is no different to anywhere as many people say - its just difficult to be as secure as you want when its not your own home!

 

[copper]

I think perhaps we think being on a resonably small Island we are safe because criminals wouldnt be atracted to it as they cant get away !!

This is obviously not the case if the Police havent caught anyone Is this sort of thing published in local English Newspapers or not ?? My husband always gets a Spanish paper while we are there as he can speak Spanish so dont read the English ones

We have stayed in Palma for a few holidays and we actually felt quite safe there as I probably saw more Policemen in a week there than Ive seen here in the last five years !! They patrol constantly in the evenings and on scooters so they can get in and out of the little lanes

I did say to my husband we saw very few policemen in PP this year while we were there
I remember visiting Cyprus years ago after we had been burgled at home and trying to explain to a Cypriot relation of a friend what burgalry was !! They didnt have locks on their houses ! Not sure it will be the same now!
I think these things should be mentioned as it is best to be aware

 

[Serendipity]

Also just to remind you not to leave your patio doors ajar at night if you're on 2nd or 3rd floors as it seems there is at least one mountain climbing thief! I know most people wouldn't because of air con but we used to thinking that it'd be fine as we weren't on the ground floor.

 

[pollensa]

There is rather a lot of speculation going on as to who carried out the burglaries, aspects to do with children etc. Having spoken to one of the local Property Management companies, they have confirmed that Yes there have been some burglaries this year (but there have been every year & we have had several in our block over the last 10 years), and a few have taken place whilst occupants were present. They said that the Police say that they 'know' about a gang every year so they don't think that there is any change there.

They also confirmed that they are NOT aware of ANY incidents or reports of incidents involving children and other local residents say the same.

So please do not worry about your children but take the same precautions that you would with them anywhere.

As for security, I can only repeat:

Don't bring expensive jewelry or unnecessary credit cards with you
Have minimum cash in your wallet
Hold onto your bags in the Market
Lock away valuables & electronic items in a safe (& ask your accommodation provider if there is one)
Lock windows, balcony doors - do not rely on shutters
Lock internal doors if there are keys
Hide/lock away Car Keys
& do all this 'locking away' at night as well as when you go out.

This is all standard stuff but some of us forget when we are relaxed & happy in the sun!