Burgled again - the straw that broke the Camel's back

[shanagarry]

Despite taking all the precautions under the sun - I let my guard down while taking a shower last evening and am now less One Laptop, 2 iPads and an iPhone. I left the kitchen door ajar for the dog to get in and the rest is history. The GNR found a knife in the garden which must have been used to hold the dog off - not that he would attack anyway.

This is the second time - the alarm foiled the first attempt but having to live under a siege regime is not for us - we are off. After 20+ years starting as visitors, then owning a holiday home and eventually making the permanent move - we believed we had it all working for us. Blue skies and beautiful sunshine are fine - but the constant threat of crime undoes all the good - we're out of here.

In the morning I will start getting removal prices and all being well we should be out of here by early September - never to return.

Back to wet and miserable West Sussex - but at least its safer

[heini]

so sorry to hear that, shanagarry. I wish you would reconsider, I only come for 2 or 3 months in the Wintetime and I just love being there - all the plusses you mentioned. However I agree one must have a sense of security in ones own home. Keep us informed about your progress and say HI to Helder.

[sunman]

REALLY sorry to hear about this all SG, I understand completely where you're coming from and am really sorry about what you've been through, horrible to have to live with eyes in the back of your head.

[laserblazer]

I understand your fury and frustration but don't do anything rash. Come and spend a couple of weeks in our lovely UK summer weather and then think again.

[widge]

What a terribly sad & frightening situation. I am very sorry to hear your news SG you & your lovely wife must be devastated. You have a beautiful villa in a very quiet & affluent development, it's a shame that these thieving b**stards are forcing you out! Whilst I totally understand your decision in some ways it seems such a shame to let these b**stards win.

[pickwick]

Shanagarry

Soooooo sorry to hear of this. As you know we had a similar event (picture of the burglar in the house courtesty of Securitas) and were also violently robbed near Barcelona. We will miss you and Julie but bad things happen everywhere. Anything we can do - just ask.

Pickwick and wife

[bruce]

Sorry to hear of this Shanagarry, I can understand how you feel.
No matter where you live being robbed so many times would give you a bad feeling about your home.
Hope things work out for you.

[ron5000]

Hello SG
Bad news but likely to happen anywhere, I understand how you must be feeling and know a couple who did exactly what you are thinking of doing. Where do you live, I suspect with the reference to Helder it is somewhere close to me

[shanagarry]

Thanks to everybody for their kind words. Having not slept a wink all night - my temper has not subsided.

Fortunately or unfortunately my wife is in Lisbon (had she been here they would not have come into the house) but was speared to shock of realising our home had been burgled. We have 6 foot high fences, even larger front gates but the back gate, even though it is 6', is easily scalable and that's how they got in. I am of the opinion that the burglars must have known their way around as nothing can be seen from the road and they were in and out in less than 5 minutes. There were other valuables around in close proximity to the stolen property which were not touched - suggesting they knew what they wanted and made a bee-line for it and got away.

For those who know - the iPhone has a facility to be found when it is lost or stolen but it only works when they are connected to the internet. The thieves must have immediately turned it off as the tracking did not take me to, as I thought it might to Poco Partido. It also has the facility to remotely wipe everything from it as well as the iPads - once they connect to the internet.

The GNR were courteous enough but must be dealing with cases like this by the hour.

We have visitors here at present who were also in Lisbon and for the next 3 weeks - we will have more - after that we are out of here. I think UK rain-therapy would be more preferable:(

[cumbria sue]

so sorry to hear about your break-in, please don't let it drive you away. three years ago we were broken into at RB, it was through the night
and we still don't understand how we didn't hear a thing , we wondered if they had sprayed something, anyway they cleaned us out and it was scary going to bed for a while but we were determined they wouldn't drive us away,please reconsider when you have calmed down.

[HampshireRich]

For those who know - the iPhone has a facility to be found when it is lost or stolen but it only works when they are connected to the internet. The thieves must have immediately turned it off as the tracking did not take me to, as I thought it might to Poco Partido. It also has the facility to remotely wipe everything from it as well as the iPads - once they connect to the internet.

(

Shannagary - really sorry to read this and hope you end up where you feel best - either CVO or Sussex - having had a break-in myself in the UK I fully understand the anger.

In respect of the iPads, I thought although they could clear everything down, the serial number of the machine cannot be wiped and if they try to register it under a new name it should show up - this is a site that may help (if you have not already done this stuff of course).

http://www.ipadastic.com/tutorials/how- ... tolen-ipad

All the best

HR

[James Faro]

Well, there is no point in living in fear or the threat of being burgled; that is not living but surviving and hoping for the best. Nobody can reasonably be expected to tolerate that.

I booked a villa two years ago near that Poppy's restaurant area and on at least three nights there were suspicious individuals roaming in the garden area from the adjoining fields. It bothered me but not too much as I did not own the villa and the car was from a hire company. However, if that was my property that is a totally different set of circumstances. When the rep/manager kept insisting on the windows at night being locked and all the doors locked and items of value placed in the safe and the key stored safely somewhere else I thought he was bordering on the point of paranoia. It was on the last day that he told me the property was subject to numerous burglaries.

I am not sure where you reside in CVO but if it is a quiet rural area than that is where these scumbags will rob as to do it in an built-up area where neighbours do tend to keep an eye on things would be too risky for these cowards.

Safe journey back home to the UK.

[Gary/Gaynor]

I think you now have to think about your safety too. Finding a knife in the garden would have also scared me. You have to wonder would they have used it if necessary and not just to ward the dog off? Yes it can happen anywhere but sun or no sun you have to go back to where you feel safest at the moment. It's desperate times out there and crime is on the rise everywhere. I wish you well in the future and a safe journey back to the homeland.
Gaynor

[martin.cork]

So Sorry to hear about the break in but it seems that the thieves are opportunists (see your own post of 2/6/12)
The knife could be in the garden for some other reason...
We also had break ins a few years ago and following the installation of an alarm system and cameras, we have had
only one unsuccessful attempt since then.
It is probably more annoying that despite all your efforts to secure the property, you let your guard down and
left the door open. Do you have any cameras on your property. It would be a good idea and may help identify
the culprits.
If I was a full time resident and my property is as secure as yours I would recommend a few guard dogs in the garden.
Do not rush in to a decision. I would gladly swap a few minor thefts in Carvoeiro with the miserable summers in Ireland/UK.
This can also happen in Ireland/UK , even when its raining... keep the sunny side up, the camels back is stronger than you think,
and remember all the good times you have had in Carvoeiro.... and the future ......

[patti]

Really sorry to hear about your problems. I know how you feel having suffered several robberies in the past despite taking every precaution we could think of.
I hope when you have considered your options, every thing goes well for you in the future.