Villa theft

[sam]

We found this to be a problem as Ms Day had handed our keys to her friends so that they could carry out inspections of the property when she was not in the country - although we had not authorised this. When we terminated her contract we asked for the keys to be returned which were not and so it was necessary to have the locks changed and this came to a considerable amount of money as we had four outside doors and one internal door. the only way of stopping extra keys being cut/duplicated is if you purchase specialist keys which are costly and cannot be cut by the locksmith in places like Intermarche as the blanks have to be specially ordered and registered.

Marion Day did return our keys after we terminated her employment, but I had already changed the locks as a precaution.
I would like to echo the problem of keeping keys in the door, but from the other perspective. We once had to call the police out to break into a house where an elderly lady had been taken ill. We had her spare key, but it would not work as her key was in the other side.

[mysecondhome]

Thats very concerning that break ins are happening when residents are asleep. The property we stay in tends to have a triple lock which when opened by the key makes a clanking sound. I have to admit though even when all the shutters are down, the bedroom doors are open and the coffee table is against the patio doors etc. Also being ex forces i sleep very lightly and there is always something close at hand!!

[EMM]

Not only do we lock all external doors but we close/lock the shutters at night or when out of the villa.

It is very easy to fit an internal bolt to shutters to give you additional security , just a few euros from any DIY store.

[shanagarry]

There is a danger here that people will start panicking by imagining their homes or the places they have booked to spend their holidays are being staked out by the low-life that infest society worldwide. The reality is no different than it is here in the UK.

When people go on holiday, for the most part, they leave their guard down. The warm and relaxing environment a holiday engenders does not go hand in glove with making sure every door and window is locked - as you would if you were at home. Burglary and theft are not associated with having a nice time.

Several years ago when we rented our property I would put a warning at the front of the handbook covering all the areas that holiday makers should be alert to. This frightened the crap out of some clients - but in the 12 years we owned that property (in Vale do Milho) we did not have a single incident.

Regretfully we have to assume that the low-life we encounter in the more developed and supposedly more civilised areas of Europe have found The Algarve and there's nothing we can do about it - other than take the same precautions you would if you were at home.

[joanne]

Hi we also use Charon and since they have been taken over they have been really good, we set the alarm of one night and they were with us within 5 minutes, then sent someone else round the next day, to re set the delay time to get in, went through the whole sytem again, and was really helpful.

I have set the alarm of 3 times and ave never been charged a call out fee?

We leave our keys in and double lock the door when we are in, and also lock all the internal downstairs doors, just the sama as we would do when we are at home, you just need to be sensible.

A friend of ours son, stayed in his Villa last year and they got broke into when they were in bed, the realised later that they had left a door open, just need to be careful.

[e-richard]

The reality is no different than it is here in the UK.

I'd actually suggest that subject to where you are in the UK, crime in The Algarve is generally lower than the UK.

Perhaps that's why it seems so bad when it happens?

[EMM]

THere is no comparison with UK crime levels, The number of reported crimes in all of Portugal is less than The Met police area.
We have been robbed ( NOT IN CARVOEIRO ) and each time it was because the guests had left windows open and possesions in view.
In one apartment we know off , ground floor patio doors were left unlocked with cameras, PC etc in plain view.There are lockable shutters which should also have been closed. Sadly there have also been cases of bumping up the loss for insurance purposes.

There is very little as owners we can do to protect guests from themselves BUT we can provide our properties with the best levels of security we can think of so as to minimise the risks associated with that understandable " Holiday " state of mind.

From our experience and that of other owners " breakins " are rare, use of spare " lost " keys does happen sometimes, but the majority are due to an understandable lack of awareness on the part of the guests.

[Matryx]

We have a villa up at ADM and were unfortunately burgled last year. We have now had quite a comprehensive alarm system installed by Securitas, and it works really well. There is a camera and microphone within the system, with 24 hour monitoring. If the alarm is trigerred, then the security company can see what is going on in the house and make contact with the intruder. We also receive a phone call as soon as the alarm is activiated, as does our hoousekeeper. If the activiation is a genuine break-in, then the GNR are contaced immediately. So far so good, and I would definitely recommend Securitas.

[Michael Crane]

Matryx, are burglars made aware of this system and thus avoid breaking in or is it stealthy and gives them no prior warning?

[Matryx]

Matryx, are burglars made aware of this system and thus avoid breaking in or is it stealthy and gives them no prior warning?

I understand they are Michael, and the Securitas signs plastered all over the walls seems to be a pretty good deterrent, they head for the soft targets.

[jonboy]

They are at it again in the Monte Servo area - I am near there on a lane near what was Ali Supers ( market road). My house was broken into Wednesday night despite me having Securitas alarm and cameras fitted. They cleared off once they had broken in and set off the alarm without taking anything but after causing damage to a door on entering the house. Be careful and vigilant in this area.

[jonboy]

Of course if these types want to get in then they will find a way. However, is there any eveidence that the installation of a good double glazing system with modern locks will help deter the smash and grab / opportunistic mob? Has anyone had decent DG installed and still been hit?

Thinking of replacing the the 20 year plus single thinly glazed units with DG.. any views or suggestions ?

JB

[maccasa]

Leaving a key in the inside lock does stop another key being used to get in, just dont forget to take the one out of the door that you are going to open when coming back - we forgot once Doh!!

We certainly leave keys in locks at night.

one other tip have you seen the dummy cameras for sale on e bay - few £ each and have a battery in, which shows a light and moves the camera. We have real one which looks the same and 3 dummy ones.

[shanagarry]

Thinking of replacing the the 20 year plus single thinly glazed units

One of our earlier properties had the units you are referring to and we too suffered as you have. Unless you have shutters to protect them - they are a waste of time - easily broken and very weak locks.

Having recently bought a new property one of our requirements was robust double glazing with equally robust locks. They cost a bit but I can sleep easier at night knowing that anybody trying to get in will have a job on their hands.

[jonboy]

Thanks Shanagarry... now need to get some quotes going. Seem to remember someone on here recomending a place with good porduct and service out in Algoz? Can' t find it ..

JB