Anyone have any comment/opinion regarding the disturbing news this morning of gang attacks on British tourists in the Algarve ?

According to this week Algarve Resident paper (free at the airport), there has been an attack last week were sadly the man has died, he was set upon by four men. They also said that there was a previous attack a couple of months ago, also believed to be by the same group. These attacks happened in Albufueira.

http://www.algarveresident.com/story.asp?XID=41910

Albufeira does seem to be getting a bit of a 'reputation' for being a bit rough at times (I'm trying to word that tactfully as it's only based on news/word of mouth/ hearsay etc)

I suppose it's no different to busy towns anywhere really. It's just less usual here!

editted to add - you mention it was "news this morning". Have you seen it on British TV or do you mean in the paper?
I'm sure UK tv would be scaling up the problem (with all respect to the victim and his family in these cases, of course) to make it sound like gangs are roaming the streets but, in fairness to Albufeira (and the entire Algarve) the UK is not a place to pass judgement!
I know where I'd feel safer

3 people have been mugged in Tavira in the last month and in Villa Nova Cacela 2 people were shot dead last week but this was a Portuguese argument.

I recall reading about the Villa Nova Cacela, also in the Algarve Resident, it was reported to have happened in a local brothel.

Another news article
http://www.portugaldailyview.com/01-...about-security

Tricky to know what to advise really other than common sense. Wherever you are, there's an element of risk in life, I suppose.

They certainly do make is sound like roaming gangs but I'm not sure where that has come from.

Just seen it on the local news here in the northeast. No comment was made about the Portugeuse end other than it happened in Portugal. The piece concentrated on him being a gentle, friendly guy who will be missed by family and friends - an active member of the local bowls club.

Sad news.

OK, couple of points:

(1) Portuguese just love conflict, creating it - simply in their DNA. My wife just been blocked in for 4 hours while the turd and his mates sat drinking & watching. Sadly for said turd, I just arrived, and his squat little motor got seriously shunted by my wife's 3 litre 2 ton BMW's towbar - wife is to polite, I am not.... Then slowly in reverse pushed the turds car so far down the road, even I thought "enough is enough'. Turd got up...at that moment. They just love conflict.

(2) I hear.....from senior levels of Portugal.....English guy who died was a rat-arsed as can be. Now I enjoy a drink, and do get that way myself - but no excuse for death - but.....story in press is neither fairly balanced nor complete.

Take care all. Austerity cuts will make things alot worse, before they return to civilised norms.

BigAnt

Yes, I did actually see the news initially on the BBC website first thing this morning. I followed it up in the Independent and Guardian (online). I noticed that Diario de Noticias and Destak also carried the story, but perhaps not as...sensationally.

I have lived in Portugal for 4 years now - and never once felt threatened or unsafe. Its wonderful to see families out walking at 11 PM. But as some of you said, we should be sensibly cautious no matter where we are.

My reading of this in the english paper is that this group responsible are not portuguese. Where we are in Portugal the Portuguese could not be more friendlier. It would appear in big ants case that maybe two wrongs dont make a right, although I understand it must have been fustrating.

My wife's friends have recently returned from Carruella (spelt wrong), Spain (close to Malaga) one of them was mugged on the way home. When then went to the police they said there have been 100's of muggings and blamed the Moor's.

Would the Moors be in Tavira? What where the circumstances of the 3 muggings in Tavira - daytime, late at nite, singling out females?

Tavira - blimey, a more sleepy safe place you couldn't find. My 18 & 20 year olds won't even come here as "...it's dead..." ! Really, for sure must be some crimes - and if anyone has factual meat to add to the bones please shout - but this is calm, relaxed, relatively risk free. The locals, yes some begrudge foreigners - but mostly they are open & friendly. If 3 drunk English women are staggering home, collapsing pi55ed and dragging handbags behind them.....well, maybe next time they'll think twice about getting completely out of their pants.....sorry, heads. BA

Did either of you ask him to move it??? Did he just ignore you?...Have you had a GNR visit yet for criminal damage to his car?

At 2-3pm my wife spent 45 mins honking horn few times, asked passersby, and yes....in her 2 years of trained Portuguese, politely asked people who owned the car. Bugger only got up and strolled over, once he car was blocking 4 lanes.

Simply, they were being turds. We only knew he was one of the group at cafe when he strolled across as car was creating huge queues...where I had left it. They had sat watching me try the door handles gently, try in vain to manouvre our car, but fail, etc.

This was only after 4 hours, when I was able to get there, in 2nd car. Just to be clear Cleri....they sat there.

And before you ask....my wife had politely rang PSP....I called them off - not wishing to waste Police time, I dealt with it. And if GNR want to pop round, fine with me...

Really, open your eyes, and please read my email. I was being balanced, I highlighted 2 realities - at either end of spectrum. The Portuguese police have very different story to those being reported about the British guy.

If I was really pi55ed and out of control, I would have taken the 2 hand axes under dog mat in back of the BMW.....and left the guy with an experience, he would never forget. But heh, I was relaxed.

Good night, BA

Errr...I did read it.Don't confuse me with one of the fresh faces that see nothing wrong in Portugal,I've been here too long.
I just wanted photo's of bruising and his crushed Fiat Punto