Thieves

[Fergie]

I have friends staying at my property in Carvoeiro. They drove to Lagos at the beginning of this week and had a walk on the beach
They put all their valuables,handbag, watches, including a 25 year old gold watch etc in the boot for safe keeping. On return to their hire car they opened the boot to get some water and all their valuables had been stolen. The thief had punched the door lock with a very sharp instrument which unlocked the car without setting off the alarm. They were fortunate that they had left their passports and credit cards in the safe back in my property. They did the correct thing to protect their personal property but to no avail, however it would appear that they had been watched by the thief. So be warned.
I doubt if my friends will ever return to Portugal.
I am slowly going off Portugal, maybe quickly, with the thieving, the petty bureaucracy, road tolls, the high cost of living and quite often the Portuguese habit of sticking their arm into your pocket when ever the opportunity arises. I bought my property ten years ago, I think I have had enough and will put it on the market. it will probably take another ten years to sell and that will be certainly a long enough experience of Portugal.

[Michael Crane]

You should NEVER leave anything in your hire car of any value. The 'sharp object' will be a screwdriver, it is forced into the car and trips the electric switch. I leave my hire car unlocked with nothing at all inside - I have done this since a similar theft happened to me in Lagos. SEE HERE

[widge]

I have friends staying at my property in Carvoeiro. They drove to Lagos at the beginning of this week and had a walk on the beach
They put all their valuables,handbag, watches, including a 25 year old gold watch etc in the boot for safe keeping. On return to their hire car they opened the boot to get some water and all their valuables had been stolen. The thief had punched the door lock with a very sharp instrument which unlocked the car without setting off the alarm. They were fortunate that they had left their passports and credit cards in the safe back in my property. They did the correct thing to protect their personal property but to no avail, however it would appear that they had been watched by the thief. So be warned.
I doubt if my friends will ever return to Portugal.
I am slowly going off Portugal, maybe quickly, with the thieving, the petty bureaucracy, road tolls, the high cost of living and quite often the Portuguese habit of sticking their arm into your pocket when ever the opportunity arises. I bought my property ten years ago, I think I have had enough and will put it on the market. it will probably take another ten years to sell and that will be certainly a long enough experience of Portugal.

I might make you a cash offer in return for a very big discount if you're that keen to leave? PM me if you're serious.

[sunman]

first of all, very sorry to hear of your friends experience Fergie, theft of all sorts is common on the Algarve, this business of breaking into cars with a screwdriver has been going on for some while I'm afraid, there was a spate of it going on in the tennis club car park a while ago, as folk say, better not to leave anything at all in the car.
That said, our next door neighbours in VDM had their villa robbed 5 times in one summer including having the safe kangoed out of their wardrobe and pushed down the stairs causing all sorts of damage so some things are not even safe in there, better to bring as little as possible; or maybe fill the safe with dog poo and hide the passports in corn flake boxes?

second, was great to read your old post Michael & seeing you and Ellie having a friendly chat

last, I see from your old post Fergie that you actually bought your villa in 2006? not that long ago really; hang in there for a bit, the anger over this theft will pass & you'll feel a bit better & can hopefully enjoy some more beers in the sun round your pool

[EMM]

Having been a victim of car crime a few times ( fortunatley not in Portugal ) we adopt the following precautions.

Follow MC advise leave nothing in the car and remove the rear parcel shelf.

or Do not be seen putting any valuables in the car before you go off to shop, walk etc.
We see so many doing this and it is obvious to any thief that he has time to break in and take anything of value.

Use the spare wheel cavity for anything that you can fit in it and fill the space above with articles that will not interest a thief.

If you can remove any evidence that yours is a hire car.

These precautions are the fruit or experience in the UK where we had 2 breakins on our drive , plus in supermarket car parks , leisure facilitiies and parked in the street.

[Fergie]

Hi everybody who responded to THIEVES.
Thanks for all the advice and encouragement, it is very much appreciated.
Widge, when and if I decide to sell I will contact you. If it suits you, please leave me your contact details.

Best regards,

Fergie.

[Lesley Jean]

I am really sorry to hear this BUT if you put all your valuables in the boot in the open then what do you expect, I can't believe that people still do this whether it is in Portugal or anywhere, Would you do this at home?? I certainly wouldn't not these days, you are always being watched in car parks for just this, an easy picking for someone who is quick and has the ability to beak in.

Please, anyone, don't leave your brains behind when you go on holiday, stay vigilant and you will have a nice holiday. Don't judge Portugal by the fact that your friends were a bit silly.

[Gary/Gaynor]

So sorry to hear of the theft and it must have been distressing and off putting with regards to coming back to CVO. I hope that as time goes on your friends anger will subside a little and they return to CVO. In the wider picture it's not just our little town that is being hit but all over what wth the money climate the way it is. Living here in Holland we have police that patrol the street in The Hague, Amsterdam and all major towns and cities now telling women how to strap their handbags as they have had a spate of handbag thefts, sort of grap and run approach. Leaving stuff in boot of a car is not the answer as that is the first place they look now. Had a friend of mine leave his car fo 10 mins at a long stay airport carpark in UK whilst getting a parketing ticket had his suitcase was taken from the boot with all his travel clothes for vacation, what a start to a holiday. Within minutes they'd got in somehow It's everywhere, even had Gary's Scooter taken from right outside out house, 1 year old Vesper, locked with a big chunky chain, they came along early hours of the morning, lifted it into a waiting van, chain and all.
With a withered smile I hope you decide to stay in CVO the little town could do with as much Euros boost as possible.
Gaynor

[pato]

With a withered smile I hope you decide to stay in CVO the little town could do with as much Euros boost as possible.
Gaynor

"The Little Town" that's more like it Gaynor, I get fed up with this snobby "Village" thing.

[Gary/Gaynor]

[ron5000]

Used to be officially a village then Lagoa elevated itself to a city with the help of a very prolific mayor, Piscoret, spelt wrongly, who later joined the Brussels lot. Carvoeiro then became a town giving it a bit more in hand outs, all the older residents still call it a village. History lesson over

[laserblazer]

A village is usually described as a centre of population with an area less than 2.5 square kilometres (1 square mile). A village will always have a church

[Farol]

A village is usually described as a centre of population with an area less than 2.5 square kilometres (1 square mile). A village will always have a church

I think your description is an old English description. In Portugal whether somewhere is a village, town or city depends on its official designation.