Attempted Burglary - thank goodness for Charon

[shanagarry]

At 2.45pm today, while we were at Leroy Merlin our home was the target of the burglary fraternity. They forced the back gate and levered the utility room window open - which then activated the alarm.

Clearly the noise of the alarm scared them off and the Charon Patrol was here inside 5 minutes. The GNR took 30 minutes more. Fortunately nothing was taken but it will necessitate the fitting of bars around the windows that do not have shutters.

Can somebody recommend a reasonably priced installer of the security bars please?

The GNR did mention that while this side of Cvo is relatively crime free - there is an increase is criminal activity generally and told me that the numbers of break-ins to cars parked at the beaches is the highest they have known. I don't know if he was trying to make me feel good by distracting me from our situation - I think it's a case of be extra vigilant my friends - the thieves are back en-masse

[Bruce Wallis]

I just had some bars fitted on my place....(well Pato is due out!)

The guy I used is Andrew Sparrow , his e-mail :-

gfs-enquiries@gfs-metalworks.com

His work is good, his prices very reasonable.
Please feel free to tell him I recommended him.

Good luck

Bruce

[shanagarry]

Bruce

Thank you very much

[sunman]

sorry to hear about this Shanagarry, but good for you that the security system worked for you.

where abouts in CVO are you?

we're in VDM, we had builders next door recently & all the kids bikes went missing from the drive; and last week I caught a guy driving a red transit van having a sniff around, he was embarassed & shocked to be confronted by me in my underpants

with so many workmen, gardeners et al wandering around the area gets cased on a regular basis, as you say, vigilance is the word.

[HampshireRich]

I think it's a case of be extra vigilant my friends - the thieves are back en-masse

A matter of concern for all - visitors and residents alike.

Is there a difference in in occurrences between holiday villas, resorts like Monte Carvoeiro and permanent residences? - I don't know where you are Shanagarry but could they have mistaken your place for a holiday villa or are permanent residences just as much at risk?

[James Faro]

At 2.45pm today, while we were at Leroy Merlin our home was the target of the burglary fraternity. They forced the back gate and levered the utility room window open - which then activated the alarm.

Clearly the noise of the alarm scared them off and the Charon Patrol was here inside 5 minutes. The GNR took 30 minutes more. Fortunately nothing was taken but it will necessitate the fitting of bars around the windows that do not have shutters.

Can somebody recommend a reasonably priced installer of the security bars please?

The GNR did mention that while this side of Cvo is relatively crime free - there is an increase is criminal activity generally and told me that the numbers of break-ins to cars parked at the beaches is the highest they have known. I don't know if he was trying to make me feel good by distracting me from our situation - I think it's a case of be extra vigilant my friends - the thieves are back en-masse

I am very sorry to hear this Shanagarry; it must be infuriating and also very distressing! Then again it could have been worse(Ie: for the thieves) because if you found them as I am sure you would knocked ten bells out of the thieving bastards and a bloody good job too!

Where I stayed last year in CVO ,directly opposite Poppy's Restaurant,the manager of the villa gave me a 45 minute lecture and demonstration of security issues. I thought it was over the top and bordering on the point of absurd paranoia! Then one night, I did see somebody lurking behind the villa grounds. It was on the last day of the holiday that the manager told me the villa has been many times the subject of burglaries even when the restaurant opposite was fully opened into the early hours.

I think the problem of burglaries is bigger than is led to believe!

[shanagarry]

HR

I don't believe our home looks like a Holiday Home - it has our cars in the drive and our Dog and two Cats roam around the place.

The GNR believed the burglars would have created the impression they lived here by entering by the back gate - the front gates are electric and virtually impossible to force. They explained that contributory factors are the lack of work - people from Lisbon/Ukraine moving here - it's a quiet area (not much crime) - targeting small items - I could have been convinced - had it not been for the way they levered open the back gate and forced a double glazed window unit (not just a window) - I don't share their down-playing of the situation. These people know we are residents and lived there.

Given that this was a Sunday afternoon at 3.45pm - there were no workmen, gardeners etc - this was, in the words of the Charon guy - people testing the system. I don't want to scaremonger but it could be that as the criminals are not getting much 'joy' at the holiday homes - they are now turning their attention on us residents?

The head GNR guy did say that the crime rate in Vale do Milho is the highest they have ever known - so much so that they have a 24 hour patrol in that area - as have Charon.

Don't let your guard down

[HampshireRich]

Shanagarry - basically then there s no real pattern here - they will try anyone at any time given the opportunity -seems grim but hopefully still rare?

[shanagarry]

Rich

You are probably right but if you take your point to its logical conclusion - there's a lot of people walking around Cvo with crowbars about their person.

Now that is grim

[widge]

I don't believe our home looks like a Holiday Home - it has our cars in the drive and our Dog and two Cats roam around the place.

Firstly, sorry to hear about this attempted burglary it must be very distressing for you & your family.

May I ask is your dog the quiet, obedient type we tend to keep as pets in the UK or one of the Portuguese terrorist mad dog varieties that bark all day & night?

I just wondered if the Portuguese variety are an effective deterrent?

[EMM]

Only a madman would attempt to force the gate of any of the houses around us.
The dogs would soon make short work of them.
We can happily put up with their barking.

[Michael Crane]

...We can happily put up with their barking.

The buggers kept me awake most nights last December.

[HampshireRich]

Rich

You are probably right but if you take your point to its logical conclusion - there's a lot of people walking around Cvo with crowbars about their person.

Now that is grim

Grim indeed - but you should be able to spot them by the way they walk