thieving b'stards around the ADM

[Silki]

Reading all these posts makes me feel very sad. This thieving has been going on for years now. The guilty ones know the villas inside-out, their weak spots etc. I have known front doors to be gemmied, security grilles ripped out and numerous panes of glass broken. Yes they are opportunists but very determined ones. Imagine, not just the cost of human trauma whilst on holiday, the insurance companies must be pretty fed up too. I know they can afford it but surely over the years they must perhaps feel they should help the Police in catching these people. The amount of damage over the years (over 20 that I can think of) is unimaginable. We must be on third generation thieves!!
Is there an answer to it, I really don't think so. Lots have been done in the past to catch the culprits, one was incarcerated for a fair length of time due to the help of management agents and local owners. Please tell your guests to use the safe, make sure doors that can't be seen from the poolside are well and truly locked and instruct the maids to close doors and windows when not in the room or nearby. Turn the little knobs on the bolts over to the side so the bolts can't be shaken down and use common sense.

[Michael Crane]

....instruct the maids to close doors and windows when not in the room or nearby. Turn the little knobs on the bolts over to the side so the bolts can't be shaken down and use common sense.

We went out one morning just before the maid was due. We locked and bolted everything that could be locked and bolted and off we went. About 20 minutes later we had to return to pick up something we'd forgotten. I reversed the car up the quite long gravel drive, popped into the villa through the open back door (and gate), went into the living-room, found what I wanted and left by the same route. In this time the maid was merrily scrubbing away in our en-suite and had no idea I had been in the villa!

[pato]

....instruct the maids to close doors and windows when not in the room or nearby. Turn the little knobs on the bolts over to the side so the bolts can't be shaken down and use common sense.

We went out one morning just before the maid was due. We locked and bolted everything that could be locked and bolted and off we went. About 20 minutes later we had to return to pick up something we'd forgotten. I reversed the car up the quite long gravel drive, popped into the villa through the open back door (and gate), went into the living-room, found what I wanted and left by the same route. In this time the maid was merrily scrubbing away in our en-suite and had no idea I had been in the villa!

Yes, this is a problem, the maid arrives leaves a back door open goes into the bedroom with the Hoover, the scallies are well aware of the procedure and move in and pinch anything lying around. People must be aware of strangers on the estate, the villain I found was walking up the road quite openly, ask them what they're doing and make them aware that they're being watched.

[dkc]

sorry - where is ADM?

[Michael Crane]

sorry - where is ADM?

See below.

CVO ADM.jpg (195.18 KiB) Viewed 7102 times

[pato]

sorry - where is ADM?

Well! obviously you're not a suspect then

[dkc]

Thanks Sherlock

[westpfs]

not sure if this right section but Cabeca do pias near Sesmarias has had 3 break-ins last week.There was the classic entry through an unlocked door when guests were by the pool but also a forced entry with a pick axe.
sounds like Eastern Europeans to me.
regards
westpfs

[Gambrinus]

According to local reports, the police have raided two locations in Lagoa and Albufeira yesterday morning. They siezed a number of stolen electronics goods, IDs and aprehended several suspects.

[Michael Crane]

They siezed a number of stolen electronics goods, IDs and aprehended several suspects.

If the owners of the stolen properties had marked them with a postcode or similar the police would know for certain they were stolen and they could be returned to their rightful owners.

Everything that can be taken from my home and garden has my postcode and address (LN22HG/2) on it somewhere; as have my members in the NHW. Thieves tend to shy away from easily identifiable goods.

[jonboy]

This is most welcome news Mr G - even if it is not the b£$^£ who knocked off our place, as it demonstrates that at least the GNR are making an effort, and if the reports are true, a bloody good one at too. Do post more details if you hear Mr G?

MC - good call and I have to say this is something I have considered but never gotten round to doing. Will do now though.

JB

[Michael Crane]

MC - good call and I have to say this is something I have considered but never gotten round to doing. Will do now though.JB

It acts as a deterrent and ensures that your goods can be returned to you if they are ever recovered. You can buy marker pens from WHS or you can get an engraver from hardware shops with which to etch your details onto your property. Even the contents of my shed and the garden furniture are marked as mine.

[Globetrotter]

not sure if this right section but Cabeca do pias near Sesmarias has had 3 break-ins last week.There was the classic entry through an unlocked door when guests were by the pool but also a forced entry with a pick axe.
sounds like Eastern Europeans to me.
regards
westpfs

Because those Western Europeans are so damn honest.

[ochu2]

new to the Forum, and i am finding it very useful.

Advice please - we are looking to buy a property in VDM / ADM and have just returned to the UK after looking at various candidates. The level of break-in activity is a little disconcerting given the usual take on this issue by the Real Estate guys ( i.e. crime is so low it is pretty much non-existent). Clearly you have different experiences, and I want to make sure we buy into the area with eyes wide open.

We're looking at 2 properties in partiular - alarmed, gates, etc but nothing that would prevent anything that has been discussed previously on these message exchanges. The properties are both adjacent to open land - i.e. not built upon on one / two sides of the plots - is this a bigger issue in terms of security in the area ? Are we better looking to be 'surrounded' by developed plots ?

[jonboy]

Anymore info on where the GNR raided and on what scale ? Hope they don't now sit back and let the problem build up again. Inevitably there is more than one team operating.

JB