thieving b'stards around the ADM

[pato]

Yes folks they're at it again, car stolen at no3 last week plus my control for the irrigation system, I confronted the thief last year and contacted the police, useless! he's slim dark and wanders around the estate, I feel, and it's only a theory, that he arives on a bike which he leaves ironically chained to the lampost at the bottom of the hill near the town houses, he's cheeky so be wary, he smiles when you catch him, someone must see him, he looks Portuguese but may be Spanish or Eastern European, and that I suppose could be anyone.

[Bruce Wallis]

Well.......and this should worry you.....I know of at least one Evertonian scally who lives in Carvoeiro

[laserblazer]

he looks Portuguese ne.

Should be easy to spot then

[Michael Crane]

he looks Portuguese ne.

Should be easy to spot then

Now that is funny.

[Gambrinus]

This thieving is really becoming a bit of a nuisance around ADM. If only there was a big mast one could climb up to observe the whole complex.... just kidding!!

What I was thinking, since Hal made such a brilliant save on that one and he really should not have to make that on his own, is, what the owners on ADM think about founding their own property owner's association?

Aside from being able to act quickly and effectively on matters of interest for local residents, it would also give you the administrative means to handle such things as resort security, etc.

Granted, it will be a hell of a job to get everyone under one hat, what with multiple nationalities causing language barriers, neighbour disputes about trees, and all that, but with some patience and hard work, you could create something that would really benefit everyone and add to the value of the area as a whole (I am thinking comunal cleaning, security, reconditioning of pavements and roads).

Quid juris?

[Bruce Wallis]

Quid juris?

GOD girls.....dont you just love it when he talks dirty in Latin

[Gambrinus]

Sacrebleu! Stay on topic please, Mr Wallis.

(PS: French works so much better than latin )

[HampshireRich]

Why ADM in particular? - is it easy for the thieves to get around, or do other complexes like Monte Carvoeiro or QDP have a similar problem? Only problem we've ever encountered in Monte CVO is my son's swimming shorts got nicked of the line one year - and we've been coming to CVO since 1994.

[carolyn]

We have a villa on VDM and have had 3 thefts in the last year - twice from guests, and once from ourselves in January! As far as we can judge the same method was used each time. While everyone is out on the patio thief has come over a low wall and in through a bedroom patio door, through the house raiding bags/wallets of cash (but not cards, mobiles or anything else) and then gone out through the front door! The patio door used to gain entry was only a few metres from when we were sitting - we found it hard to believe the audacity of the thief. We have now raised the height of the wall to hopefully prevent this. We were relieved we only lost a relatively small amount of cash and not cards, passports etc with all the annoyances of having them replaced. We are now much more cautious about open doors/windows. Has anyone else suffered similar losses?

[EMM]

We have been lucky so far only lost a few solar lights ?

We do not leave any downstairs windows open and un shuttered when we go out but as you say you cannot ensure that guests will use their common sense.

Once a thief finds a soft target he will keep coming back.

[Scarpetta]

Hi all,

There was a spate of this type of 'opportunist' thefts last year, mainly on ADM, but I know of at least 4 on VDM too. They came over the wall when people were round the pool and got in through open patio doors and windows. The villas affected seemed to be one where the pool and the patio were on different levels, so that the thieves had a better opportunity not to be seen. The police have had all the information and I know of one villa rental company here in the uk who have even gone so far as to contact the tourism minister in Lisbon to get him involved. He does seem to be paying attention, but it looks like getting the local police interested enough is the issue. They have also suggested to the villa management companies that all pool people and gardeners have badges/name tags or ID on them to prove who they are and who they work for.

A neighbour watch type scheme would be brilliant, but there are quite a few villas on all the estates which are mainly rentals villas, so it may be difficult to have a proper set up. What we need is for the police to have a more obvious presence during the day on the estates and start taking this much more seriously.

Ok, rant over!!!!

[alf1956]

it seems the petty theiving seems to be a common problem in cvo. we have a place at monte servo & as we have had 2 lots of hosepipes stolen from the garden,i plastic table from the roof terrace & 2 stainless lanterns from our patio terrace.we take everything inside now when we leave as it seems the only sure wat to stop things being stolen.

[halj]

Given the time difference in my part of the world, I was a little late in spotting gambrinus' post. Just before we left three weeks ago we held an informal meeting to explore the possibility of starting up a residents' association. Given the transient nature of the place it is difficult to forsee any kind of "structure" because very few residents are permanent and even fewer want to take on the responsibility.

I still think an informal arrangement is workable - and the observant (if unlucky) pato proves the point. Thefts are a constant concern so a "watch and warn" function seems a natural. The watching is self-explanatory, but what kind of a warning system is best? Running around the estate is physically exhausting (ask my wife about the first two days of the tower campaign). Phoning villas will help some but not others. Posting messages here can also help - except when you are a long way away and can't do very much. On that point - you may have missed it but ADM does have its own section on the main index of the forum. If we have anything to warn or inform others about that's an easy to reach and find point of contact for ADMers.

In spite of all the obstacles, I think doing something is better than doing nothing. So thank you pato. If anybody has any ideas how we can move this to the next level let's hear about it. For a brief while I thought of flying warning flags from villa roof tops - but that made me think of Monty Python's "Wuthering Heights by Semaphore" so I gave up..................

halj

[Michael Crane]

....A neighbour watch type scheme would be brilliant, but there are quite a few villas on all the estates which are mainly rentals villas, so it may be difficult to have a proper set up....

I am the NHW co-ordinator for my area (2 streets) and it is hard enough getting fulltime owner-occupants to take part, let alone those that rent on an irregular basis. Getting holiday-makers to take part will be nigh impossible, unfortunately.

My advice is to keep all ground level doors and windows shut and secured if there is any possibilty of access being gained without being seen by occupants or passers-by. That's good advice for at home and whilst on holiday.

[SJ & RE]

I agree I am the Chairman of the PACT group for Beaminste, Crime/ NHW for this area of Dorset, covering a few village horse watch and farm watch and getting anyone involved or them to pass info on is real difficult. Farmers are so distrustful.
I used to be more involved when living in Watford, and then Chorleywood re crime prevention and was one of the original group that set up secure by design.
I set up lone workers with the Suzie L.trust and organised and set up the business watch in Chorleywood all as a volunteer.
When I moved to Lyme Regis in 2003 the whole of HW/NW was run from my house as the local police station was closing. When we move back in September I have already been seconded to take it all up again. So I know how hard it is to organise such things. Lyme Regis gas also a transient population but no where near the same as ADM, so it will take a lot of time and determination to get anything going. Perhaps start by a street at a time and get them involved and build from there. Perhaps get others involved for their streets to keep an eye on .The dog owners who walk their dogs ,get a hold of them and try and get them involved. They are more likely to see things.Good luck.
Any other things give us a pm and I can give advice