It's the same in all parts of Spain I know. On our road everyone had automatic gates and even in the campo they have them or if not they are heavily padlocked gates.

The village where I live now most have their gates open all day. They drive out to work and leave them open, even the million+ pound ones.

I couldn't live in an apartment in Spain or the UK. Have done in London and there was a good community but they were mainly middle aged people. People are less considerate nowadays. We bought a bolthole in kingston whilst in Spain. Thought it would be great right on the Thames with lots of nice restaurants underneath Didn't think that one through, lots of young people living there, late parties on the terraces, noise from the restaurants during summer.....

Oh Jacky - fancy you of all people denying Young people their rights to do as they want, late parties, dining at restaurants, being well yes Young

actually agree, its a right royal PITA when they come make a noise make a mess and then leave it all to the locals with ringing ears wondering what hit them. Theres alot to be said for living in a location that isnt "popular".

I've often heard people tell me there is no crime in the north of Spain - which is patently untrue. Yet it's still the case that in many towns and villages (even near the coast there) people leave their doors unlocked, even open when they go out. Totally different atmosphere to the Med. I suppose it's down to the millions of tourists and casual workers who descend on the area. Or perhaps the rain deters the criminals?

We live in the middle of the med, and our doors are almost always left open or unlocked. But we're in a rural (non touristy) area, and I suppose that's true of almost anywhere like this.

Still, if a break in or major robbery occurred even in the nearest town, it would probably make front page news in the local paper.

And yes, I think the major tourist resorts have more occurrances of this sort of thing. Especially in the most popular and densely populated hotspots.

Just an observation: "Tourists" are almost always foreigners.

Every village always has at least one villain! Rural Andalucía has a huge drug problem. Then there are the Albanians etc "passing through"

There is crime everywhere of course, although stating the obvious, there is more in some places than others

In almost all Spanish villages you see the doors wide open even when people are not home. I even see that in Benalmadena Pueblo!

I actually think that Spanish people have a lower perception of the rate of crime, because they spend more time out on the street. British people are cooked up in their homes much more so have to rely on the unreliable press to tell them what is and is not safe.

Although saying that, it is also what you know. My wife would happily walk back on her own at 4am in Oviedo, but never would do this in the UK. In Barcelona I saw teenagers out on their own at midnight, but then the streets were busy and safe, unless you looked like a tourist with a camera dangling from your neck. I saw 2 and 3 people get mugged like that.

I must also say that when I see Spanish teenagers I think they are friendly, but when I see UK teenagers I think beware!

even when I went on a staycation from East Anglia to Bournemouth as many others do ??
in the "good old days" we used to have Miners Fortnight when miners took their families to B&B's by the sea.

The only thing we have in common with Britain is that we too are an island. A much smaller one that is popular with the British, Germans, French, Dutch, Russians, and arabs.

as Britain has British, Germans, French, Dutch, samovars of Russians and lots of Arabs we have more in common than you think

swop you 20 Russians for 15 Poles and 1 Lithuanian.
AK47's included.......

Crime follows the money and the crowds in every country, making tourists a common and often easy target.

Very few rich pickings in a remote mountain village, where a stranger would stand out like a sore thumb anyway.

Those Spanish teenage yobs trashing Barcelona last week didn't look quite so friendly to me.

Even the cuddies,(pit ponies),got a fortnight off and were brought above ground for a breath of fresh air.

All this leaving your doors unlocked is an urban/internet myth. Claimed in all countries. Anywhere I have been in Spain are bolted and locked like the BOE: not to mention the dogs outside. Ever seen all the ancient locks and bolts in spanish museums!

We have often left our doors unlocked in all countries...accidentally. no pasa nada but there is always a first time. before you start throwing the key away perhaps read about crime in your area, it's not confined to tourist areas.

Well, we lock when we leave for extended periods, but almost never when we'll only be gone for a few hours. Hubby's workshop full of expensive tools doesn't even have a lock. I keep telling him to install one.

But again, it's a rural area. I probably wouldn't feel nearly as relaxed about it in city centre.

I have been in villages in the north (Cantabria, Asturias) and seen people leave the door ajar as they leave to go to the next town or village. I see it every time I go to my friends place just inland from Oyambra beach and Comillas (resort places). It's a totally different Spain from the one you see if you only spend time on a Med resort. I'm not saying better (although the lack of tower blocks, drunken Brits, and the beautiful scenery mean it does have its appeal despite a milder climate), and the fact you don't meet other native English-speakers there still less the likes of Iceland or Brit bars, mean it's not for everyone. Spain is a very big country, and I do wonder at someone who claims to know everywhere - it's impossible, and you surely expose a lack of knowledge by making such a claim. It is true that in a city like Santander or Oviedo you would probably need to be more careful, but rural areas are still generally safe in this respect.

There is still the odd place in England where you can do this (I know parts of Derbyshire like this) and I'm sure it's the same in rural parts of Wales or Scotland.

Of course I haven't been everywhere but have been to an awful lot of places, rural and cities (when you are older you may be able to say the same) Even if it were safe...and who can claim to know everyone personally in their village, your old schoolmate could have a druggie Son and she keeps it quiet! The spanish are nosy buggers, go off for the day and that wrinkled old bag in black would be in looking around