stolen passport and other documents

blondeshecat · Post by **blondeshecat** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:26 pm

my husband and i were on holiday in town from the 21st to the 28th as a present from me for his 50th birthday.the weather was fantastic as we stepped off the plane and as we pulled into the drive of our villa we were excited to explore this pretty little town.after unpacking very quickly we headed straight to our poolside.that evening we sat overlooking the beach in a lovely taverna with scrummy food and tasty wine.we spent two more blissful days doing similar and after a fun evening at the karoke bar we headed home...........thats were the nightmare began !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!our front door had been forced and was lying open.upon investigation we found our safety deposit box smashed open and the contents gone.without boring you of the hours of crying,no sleep,the rep asking us for money to move villas,the long trip to the US Embassy in Lisbon to get emergency passports the rest of our holiday being ruined,and the ongoing misery of covering ourselves in case of identity fraud,as well as having to pay £500 for our home office stamps to be replaced what i am hoping and praying for is for some feedback from the expats who could maybe help to put our minds to rest a little?we are still praying that the villa breakins that i have heard about are just kids and they have dumped the docs and then that maybe just maybe our documents have been handed in somewhere?is there anyone i could speak to as i really need an english speaking friend out there?i will check every day for messages...thank you for any help or advice you can give.

holiday1 · Post by **holiday1** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:28 pm

I can't help (unfortunately am not an ex pat), but so very sorry to hear about this.

Can I ask where the villa was?

martin · Post by **martin** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:29 pm

my car was broken into a few years ago and the thief stole all my car documents, about a week after the crime I was getting mentally prepared to start the process of getting new ones...I walked into the carvoieiro post office and the post office woman said " I have something for you"...the thief had sent my docs back to me

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:19 pm

Martin that must have been a great surprise for you and saved a lot of aggro getting new stuff!

I was robbed in Lisbon, my large purse taken from handbag, with all my money (over 200 euros), credit cards, business cards & couple personal bits & pieces but wasn't lucky enough to get anything back...and the police didn't want to know either, got no help from them whatsoever.

Very sorry to hear of your robbery BSC and I do hope you get your documents back.

blondeshecat · Post by **blondeshecat** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:33 pm

thanks for the kind words .they do help as you begin to feel very isolated by this experience.there are no real support agencies in england.its a case of trawling the www for info of how to protect yourself.i even feel nervous in my own home.it helps to share your feelings.

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:55 pm

blondeshecat wrote:thanks for the kind words .they do help as you begin to feel very isolated by this experience.there are no real support agencies in england.its a case of trawling the www for info of how to protect yourself.i even feel nervous in my own home.it helps to share your feelings.

It is very scary being robbed and I imagine the shock is even worse when it happens where you are staying. I confess I cried when it happened to me and if it wasn't for a friend helping me I don't know how I would have got back to Carvoeiro.

Its a shock knowing someone has taken your personal stuff and takes a while to get over it,
I wish you well

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:03 am

I am so sorry to hear of your experience, it must have been very upsetting for you. If you asked the rep/reception where your villa was to be on the look out for your documents you might be lucky enough to get them back. Usually this kind of robbery is for money or items that can be sold to create cash for drugs or booze.

I do hope this hasn't put you off going to cvo again for a holiday.

We always keep our personal documents with us at all times, mainly because you should carry them with you if you are driving so I find it easiest to have every one's passport etc in my bag which I keep with me at all times. I know it could be snatched and then thieves would have a field day but in all the time we have been coming to Portugal we have not had that problem (shouldn't have said that!!!! jinx )

lincdoc · Post by **lincdoc** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:20 pm

Sorry to hear about your experience. I had my passport stolen in Spain a few years ago. I now bring a photocopy of my passport and driving license with me which I keep separately. I also have copies at home and at work which can be scanned and e-mailed to me. I can then print them off at an internet cafe. I know it sounds like overkill but a stolen passport can completely ruin a holiday and the copies make things much easier for the staff at the Consulate.

Rossidog · Post by **Rossidog** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:53 am

In the "good old days" it was not uncommon for stolen documents to turn up again soon after they were taken. Unfortunately, the days of the conscientious robber seem to be over, but it may be worth getting someone to visit the GNR, post office etc. for you.

Michael Crane · Post by **Michael Crane** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:51 am

When my passport was stolen a few years back I got an emergency one from Portimao. Couldn't you have done so too?

I too carry photcopies of passports and driving licences . . . perhaps that's why I was able to go to Portimao and not Lisbon?

blondeshecat · Post by **blondeshecat** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:33 pm

hi rossiedog.thanks for your advice. our rep is lovely and has promised to check local po's and police station. as for that sharp response Micheal ,i feel it was uncalled for as i have an American passport and therfore had to go to Lisbon to the US consulate !! i have found the people on this forum extremely helpful and was shocked at your posting.Have you had a bad day??!!

steve · Post by **steve** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:57 pm

I am sorry to hear of your problem. In the old days it was just the holiday that was ruined but nowadays identity fraud is an added and ongoing worry.

I think that it a good idea to keep a certified copy of your passport separate from the actual document. The post office here or a local lawyer will provide the necessary formal certification.

The issue of UK passports in Portugal has now been centralised in Madrid!

I used to use the Card Protection Plan where a record of all your cards, passport and driving licence is kept and all you have to do is make a single phone call to cancel them. I found it useful when we were mugged in Paris some years ago. In those days, pre 911, I got home without a passport on the strength of phone call to the british embassy. Probably very different these days.

Michael Crane · Post by **Michael Crane** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:16 pm

blondeshecat wrote:hi rossiedog.thanks for your advice. our rep is lovely and has promised to check local po's and police station. as for that sharp response Micheal ,i feel it was uncalled for as i have an American passport and therfore had to go to Lisbon to the US consulate !! i have found the people on this forum extremely helpful and was shocked at your posting.Have you had a bad day??!!

I only asked, I wasn't being sharp. Stop being so touchy.

If you think this a shocking post from me you clearly haven't seen much of the forum.

pato · Post by **pato** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:10 am

Michael Crane wrote:
blondeshecat wrote:hi rossiedog.thanks for your advice. our rep is lovely and has promised to check local po's and police station. as for that sharp response Micheal ,i feel it was uncalled for as i have an American passport and therfore had to go to Lisbon to the US consulate !! i have found the people on this forum extremely helpful and was shocked at your posting.Have you had a bad day??!!
I only asked, I wasn't being sharp. Stop being so touchy.

If you think this a shocking post from me you clearly haven't seen much of the forum.

Tut! Tut! Michael, try to be a litle more compassionate, take a leaf out of my book

Michael Crane · Post by **Michael Crane** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:05 am

pato wrote:
Michael Crane wrote:
blondeshecat wrote:hi rossiedog.thanks for your advice. our rep is lovely and has promised to check local po's and police station. as for that sharp response Micheal ,i feel it was uncalled for as i have an American passport and therfore had to go to Lisbon to the US consulate !! i have found the people on this forum extremely helpful and was shocked at your posting.Have you had a bad day??!!
I only asked, I wasn't being sharp. Stop being so touchy.

If you think this a shocking post from me you clearly haven't seen much of the forum.
Tut! Tut! Michael, try to be a litle more compassionate, take a leaf out of my book