a word of warning !!!!!!!!!

[old git's missus]

Well we arrived on the 5/7 to a beautiful villa all set for a good time .On the 6th we went to bed around midnight , our villa was not air -conditioned , the fans were adequate but on this particular night we foolishly decided to leave our bedroom window open just a little. My OH and myself were wakened around 1.20am by our 16 year old daughter who said a man had been in her bedroom and had taken her phone , her ipod and her purse from her bag. My husbands shorts and jeans were missing and we also discovered our camera had gone. Of course we phoned the police and our rep. While waiting on the police we found the shorts and the jeans lying outside , and the house key was missing from the shorts . What we think may have happened is they took the shorts and jeans possibly only hoping to maybe find a wallet but when they got the key decided to chance it and came in and just took what they could quickly, a terrifying experience for my daughter and my son who spent the rest of the holiday sleeping with the light on, the key was found lying in the garden, close to the shorts and jeans. The police came and took a statement and the rep came and spoke to us , we thought about going home but decided to stay and try to get on with it, however it wasn't quite the same , had alot of fun during the day but nighttimes were a bit edgy and alot of sleep was lost.

So we are now home and I think we are all glad to be sleeping in our own beds tonight . Be careful everyone and learn from our mistake . we paid alot of money and couldn't wait to come back to Co, tonight I am feeling quite upset , its a great place, just wish it hadn't happened

[Lesley Jean]

I am really sorry to hear your story and hope that others will learn from it, it is so tempting to leave windows open on the warm evenings just to get some fresh air, is the house yours? if so maybe put some ornate window bars up which will not make it look like a prison but will allow you to sleep in peace in future.

[Michael Crane]

How terrifying. I hope you all recover from the shock.

Some villas have a mesh, mozzie guard that allows the windows to be left open but offers some (slight) security. It won't stop them getting in in the daytime, but at night, they might think twice. If you attach a little bell to it on the inside (away from the wind) it might act as a warning when someone is trying to get in.

[Thunderbolt]

I'm sorry to hear about your story.
Unfortunately robbers will chance it at every opportunity they get.

I was sitting by my pool with a friend one night. My other friend was asleep in the villa. We had left the patio doors slightly ajar so we could get back in.
My pool is a few steps below the patio doors.
My friend suddenly shouted, jumped up and ran. I hadn't heard anything but a man had crept up to the villa and was trying to get in the door with us sitting not 5 metres away!!

We scared him off but from then on, we were extra careful. Leaving plenty of light outside when we were there, closing all doors, etc...

One other word of advice as well. If you are unloading your car from shopping or when you arrive, do not wander off into the house and leave the door open because it only takes one second for someone to sneak in and grab bags, cameras, etc...

I know it's a shame but people do have to be cautious wherever they are.

Thdb

[Rob Watson]

It really is a shame that this sort of thing can spoil people's experience of such a wonderful place but the harsh reality is that wherever there is tourism (infact wherever you are full stop) there are always opportunist thieves looking for an open window or door.

That said, if your windows/patio doors are the type which slide open on a track then you might find this a useful tip....Cut a broom stick to a length a few inches less than the width of the door/window and place it in the track, this way the door/window can be slid open a few inches for some fresh air but then it hits the broomstick and cannot be opened any further. As long as you don't cut the stick too short the door/window cannot be opened far enough for any prospective thief to reach around and remove it.

Whilst this may not be the most elaborate form of security - and if your apartment/villa is unoccupied a thief would probably eventually find a way to remove the stick - the fact remains that they'd probably have to make a fair amount of noise to do it so if this little trick didn't deter them from trying you'd certainly hear them if you were lying in bed.

[SJ & RE]

Hiya,
Sorry to hear of your awful experience and I hope you are getting over it. Its a shame people can be so shameful as to steal and enter a house in such a way or to do such nasty things. I do hope you all managed to have a good holiday despite the experience and that it will not put you off visiting CVO.

[Karen Ann]

Hi
I'm really sorry that your family had to endure this experience while on holiday in CVO, and I would like to thank you for sharing it with us.

Carvoeiro is a beautiful, relaxing place and, let's be honest, when on holiday we are more laid back about everything. Perhaps a little too much.

I hope you have all recovered from your nightmare.

I think that we should continue to be on our guard wherever we are, at home or on holiday, and take the same precautions we do at home.
I know, it is very easy to say this after the event, however, I would like to say that I think I have learned something from your experience.

[sunlover]

Hi, we too had a burglary when we were there last year. The intruder came into our bedroom and took things not long after we had gone to bed. We had all doors and windows locked and the intruder still managed to get in with no signs of a forced entry so we were unable to claim on our insurance. We were a large group holidaying in the one villa and our children are still young, so we too had sleepless nights. We love Cvo but it has unfortunately frightened our children and has affected their enjoyment of a holiday we have since had in the UK. How big a problem are burglaries in Cvo? Sorry that you went through the same experience.

[blue]

We were burgled last spring in carvoeiro they forced the patio doors & took camera, computer, cash. It's a big problem in cvo from the stories I've been told by others who have been burgled, the winter we moved out here we heard of 5 break ins. In our case the gnr were very prompt & polite but we've heard nothing since. We have been told by quite a few residence here that the gnr know who the likely culprits are that commit the burglaries but do nothing, but then if they don't have proof I don't see what they can do.

[Misty]

I don't think there are any more burglaries in Cvo or the Algarve than any other tourist resort. Unfortunately theives hang around those areas. I have also been the subject of a chance burglary during the day time whilst I napped, although not in Portugal. At least you are much less likely to be the victim of any sort of violent assault here.

People need to remember that crimes happen everywhere, even when you're on holiday.

[blue]

Completely agree Misty but I think people should be aware that it is just as likely to happen here as any where else & take appropriate precautions.

[redwinegirl]

Sorry to hear about your experiences

I've visited CVO over 20 times and stayed in villas both in CVO and in more rural parts - Benagil and Marinha. We have been burgled once and this was at a villa down a secluded track. I drove back from a night out and as I opened the front door I saw a man escaping through the french doors with my luggage. He had taken all my son's clothes and toys but left him one outfit and a pair of trainers and a few toy cars. (Bizarrely I actually found the fact he'd left something behind for him rather thoughtful )

The way in was left open by myself as I'd not closed the shutters on the kitchen window and he'd used a large boulder off a nearby villa renovation site to smash the window.

My husband gave chase but in the pitch dark of the countryside but there was no chance (probably a good thing).

I wouldn't go out at home and leave windows open so goodness knows why I did it on holiday.

[Robbie]

I was in Carv for the last two weeks and there certainly are burglaries going on. There was one at our complex in Monte Dourado (just took clothing and beach stuff from outside cloths line) and there were two bag snatches down around the square. It doesn't matter where you are in the world at this time of year, you are going to experience such problems when people have their guard down and are enjoying the beer and sun. I believe it to be very minor in Carv compared with other areas which I have travelled to. On a related matter I noticed from a topic earlier in the year that the GNR are leaving the village and will operate out of Lagoa. I am not sure if this has happened yet but I can assure you that there is a big GNR presence around the village at the moment which is comforting to see. Just keep safe, don't do anything stupid like leaving valuable unattended and most importantly "enjoy heaven for the time that you are there"

[Misty]

The GNR in Carvoeiro is still open. I don't know if/when it will be closed.

[blue]

In spite of our experience I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world.