You couldn't say that in UK with impunity.
At best, this is stereotyping - at worst, racism. Right or wrong.
We get it in UK as well. Everyone blames the immigrants, usually from Eastern Europe now, but an opportunist thief, whether in a well planned gang or not, can be home grown just as easily.
You vote the government in - you have to be prepared for what they do, but at least you can let them know at the next election.

So knowing that these criminals exist and, to some degree, the way they operate, be on your guard and practice damage limitation. Report every incident to the police. Yes it's only a denuncia, but if EVERY single incident resulted in a denuncia then the police would be more likely to sit up and take notice. Perhaps they do nothing because nine times out of ten WE do nothing.

Sorry if this sounds a little bit political - I usually try to keep the fence warm, but it is up to us to bring about any changes in the way we are treated. A long and difficult process, but inertia is the alternative.

Sorry matt thought this was enough detail

We were extreamly carefull then but "they" because my wife with 20/20 hindsight can remember exactly how it happened. He asked her a question in English allthough he was of east european origin from the accent, distracted her, his accomplice opened her bag on her shoulder how i do not know and removed her purse and shut it again we did not know it had even happened until we got to the check out.

People that I describe that are mainly south american and european of the east, some magrebi (they are not citizens from western Europe, in this case, british, nor french, nor german, nor italian.... Never I have seen problems of british, only Toni King´s case and hooligans; but only some hooligans, non criminals nor groups criminals, that they come, they stay and they begin to make us la puñeta, as now) they are a problem not only in Malaga, also in all spanish geography, but mainly in the coast. And I says and I repeat again, any spanish with a certain age or any foreigner that it resides several years in Spain, will be able to justify what I am saying

Hi,
I have a place in los Pacos Nr Fuengirola, one of the reasons i love it there is the lack of crime and the lack of the threat of crime. "Someones friend got mugged two years ago", that is the level of crime I hear about. Our Urb had a robbery in 1994 that is about it.
I have seen someone have their wallet snatched, and I have heard of peoples bags being hooked from under tables, benches and under the awnings of frontal cafe bars.

I used to have a place in Torrevieja and that area had a definite crime epidemic, everyone I spoke to was robbed, it made us feel quite insecure, the CDS in general is much safer BUT I put it down to Spains problem with immigration the main culprits are Morrocans and eastern Europeans with South Americans thrown in for good measure. They have flocked in, in recent years and places like Torre ( an area of more affordable housing) has seen a massive increase in all these groups and a massive increase in crime, the CDS being very expensive is more prohibitive so the impact is less but still there is an impact and I think this is what you are seeing.

I just hope it does not get worse as I love my little bit of paradise and the crime level is part of it!

LPH

I agree i hope it dosent get worse, but as long as people keep saying nothing can be done about it ,it will. The Malaga area and a few Km either side seems to be the area where these wasters have decided to settle
Yes we also like the Fuengirola area had many good hols there before we moved here nearly7 years ago.
We are well inland and it is crime free to date .I have not heard of one break in or theft you may loose a chicken but to your neighbours dog most probably .
Thanks for your post
sapper

I did read the original message, thats why I replied to it. You posted about Robbery, You have not been robbed and therefore your post was misleading. I know of one person who has been robbed in the Malaga area, it was reported on this site, and he was accosted and assaulted by three or four assailants and had his wallet taken. Was your experience as bad as this?

So why haven't you done that already? Don't you think that besides this good site that the local english speaking media in your area would be interested or already carrying out their own research. Oh and if you do get a petition together make sure it is about a subject matter that is quantifiable. Don't let the Police Chief be in a position to turn around and say "What Robberies, No Robberies have been reported" !

Your lack of response was caused by your lack of a proper description of what you were talking about. Had you explained that you had been the victim if a distraction theft (pickpockets)and you knew of 6 other people who had been subjected to the same M.O. who all came from the same place you might have received a differernt response, but were all of the M.O's the same? Are the descriptions of the offenders similar? Is there a common denominator APART from location that makes this a "crime trend"?

Yes you were scaremongering. Lets say 7 people are pickpocketed in the supermarket whilst on the promenade 7 people were actually robbed. Both are going to be investigated but which repeat offence do you think worries the police more? Which of the two offences warrants attention first?

This site is brilliant. It is here to help,assist.share,congratulate,commiserate and assist everyone who is an expat, was an expat or wants to be an expat. But it also reasonable to expect the individual to have a basic understanding of self preservation by being AWARE AND BEING CAREFULL. I am truly sorry that you have been a victim of crime but lets get some perspective and then we can devise some action.

1. No it wasnt but its distressing enough to think you have been a victim of "THEFT".
2 Before i did anything i thought it was important to obtain some statistics had i started my petition or letter to the "whoever" do you think that they would be interested in 7 Poeple being the victim of "Theft"
3 Lack of responce?at the last look over 818 people looked and 35 people aired a view regarding the thread and if that stops one person becoming a victim of "THEFT" i am very happy indeed
4 Scaremongering no i was trying to highlight what i think is a problem, to inform others which i think i have. I dont think anyone will be having nightmares they will be, however, more aware of this problem.
5 I and my wife are aware and that is what is so interesting in all but one of the cases these were very street wise people who have lived here 6 -17 years in fact one is Andaluce and has lived here all her life.These gangs /individuals are clever
I just have had to go back to the collins dictionery ROBBERY ;depredation,embezzlement,filtching ,fraud,larceny. pillage. plunder,spoilation "STEALING and THEFT" i am happy that being robbed includes theft i am not a lawyer or a policeman who has the benifit of legal training to argue the symantics. Good to talk "sapper"

Sapper
throw away the Collins dictionary.

One doesnt have to be trained in anything other than using a computer to do a bit of research.

You have a computer try google.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbery
http://www.surinenglish.com/noticias.php?Noticia=10550
http://www.andalucia.com/news/cdsn/home.htm
http://spainforvisitors.com/archive/...ndsafety_1.htm

As for a responSe I am very very glad that we have moved forwards from you complaining about the lack of a responSe to you now pointing out that you have had some.
Thus proving that this is a great site.
and indeed It IS good to talk.

Good
So I dont have to get out my Rogets Thesaurus
Lets move on

Have you walked up the hill from the beach to the caves at Nerja? Steep ! At my age it's criminal !!

Stood me in good stead over the years and always will. I think that if you said to any individual I have been robbed they would be aware that you had been a victim of theft, "violence or not"!! And they wouldnt need to look in a dictionery or go on Google to find out . Its real and its very unsettleing.
Oh two bits of news from this weeks Euro Weekly not realy my paper but picked up a copy today whilst out shopping!!
Page 8 Thieves arrested this week in Malaga two men one woman who all have lengthy previous records. MO focused on Commercial centres, hotel lobbies and markets, posing as tourists age 78M 60M 48F Hardly the sort of poeple you would be very wary of.They normaly spend the winter in Tenerife and Gran Canaria preying on tourists. Not our boys unfortunatly, but its heartening non the less.
And blow me,Investigation into "Robbery of Plasma Screen Tvs Estepona" exhibition centre, theives had keys or cut chains no mention of anyone being threatened.Except possibly the security guards when the management arrived the following day.
Well I think at this point i agree possibly with Mitzyboy and lets move on.I my view to the real issue which i am please to say more probably due to the intrusion of the pedantics, the views have now rose to over 900, keep going the more people who read will maybe be saved the same disaster.
I had hoped for a differant responce to my first post but just maybe you knew what you were doing when you started.It is a good site and its great to see older more experianced members can help and advise the newer ones
Oh by the way I love your quote at the bottom of you posts!! . Sapper.

My sig is brilliant, thanks for the compliment.
It's based on the fact that I am 51 years young and still know nothing.
Apart from knowing that thers no 'C' in response. I should dump that collins were I you

I think it would be "IF" i were you! Well on the strength of that one the next one will be a blank page!!! With a 36 -50 kbs telefonica Trac phone link spell check is a luxury i can not afford to use, as are emotions so i have to rely on the dictionary which with my failing eyesight is a struggle. If i could use emotions i am sure you might by now get a "grinace" its a mixture of a grin and a grimace !! LOL Big Grin
Ubique

:-)
;-)
:-(
:-)~
:-(~

We have all had dial ups and learnt how to save money.
Its unfortunate that you are in that situation but we all cut our cloth.

If you saw where i lived there is no contest. Dial up and this or broadband and the other options. But after 6 years we are nearly there. I have a week to spare next week got a nice winter pic i will try and add.
Sapper