Doesn't this make you feel safe?. Swiss couple violently assaulted at home

And people say that Algarve is safe. Yeah, right. Big safety no doubt. Let´s hope PJ investigates this properly.

Pedro Silva wrote:And people say that Algarve is safe. Yeah, right. Big safety no doubt. Let´s hope PJ investigates this properly.

Don't hold your breath Pedro, depends whats in it for them.

You´re right Christabel my friend.

This is becoming more and more common as the population ages so much...it happens here fairly frequently.

I think people in the Algrave have to start adjusting to the idea that it is no longer a sleepy place and they should try to take what precautions they can, sad as it is. Like how people used to live their doors unlocked, but would rarely do that today.

Of course it would help if the authorities acknowledged the change....which they won't.

Algarve is indeed a very nice place, sceenery wise I mean, everywhere. But on the seaside it is overcrouded, wich makes crime more a type of 'petty' thing, due to how close your neighbour is from you.

But if you go more inland, the calm, excellent weather and easy going (rare) people allied to the low prices, low cost of living comparativelly with foreign pensions, then people are attracted to go there. All the villas you see from time to time are huge, luxurious even. But very very scattered, isolated.

I'm not saying that crime started recently, because it didn't. But it was hugely accrued after we suffered the invasion of people coming from eastern european countries. I'm not being xenophobic, you know this is true in your own countries. And of course they learn quickly where the more 'profitable and safe' places are. That does not surprise me, it is the same everywhere.

What really scares me, and Chris touched it, is that whenever something like that happens, the 'authorities' state that the gang had been watched for months on end and that they know who they are. This is worrying. If they have been watched, how come they were able of doing such thing? If they know who they are, why are they still at large?

And Blu, these villas are no longer unprotected, the reverse. They have at least two guard dogs, very high walls, electronic gates, alarm systems, even alarm systems linked to the police. The problem is that criminals kill the dogs, know how to silence the alarms, wait for the owners to arrive home and jump on them then (when the gate is opening) or use the time delay between the alarm start and the arrival of the police, which usually is far away and the roads are bad - not their fault, the villas have been built/chosen like that

The borders open (in my opinion), without, apparentely, any kind of control are another problem, in areas like Algarve.

maria wrote:Algarve is indeed a very nice place, sceenery wise I mean, everywhere. But on the seaside it is overcrouded, wich makes crime more a type of 'petty' thing, due to how close your neighbour is from you.

But if you go more inland, the calm, excellent weather and easy going (rare) people allied to the low prices, low cost of living comparativelly with foreign pensions, then people are attracted to go there. All the villas you see from time to time are huge, luxurious even. But very very scattered, isolated.

I'm not saying that crime started recently, because it didn't. But it was hugely accrued after we suffered the invasion of people coming from eastern european countries. I'm not being xenophobic, you know this is true in your own countries. And of course they learn quickly where the more 'profitable and safe' places are. That does not surprise me, it is the same everywhere.

What really scares me, and Chris touched it, is that whenever something like that happens, the 'authorities' state that the gang had been watched for months on end and that they know who they are. This is worrying. If they have been watched, how come they were able of doing such thing? If they know who they are, why are they still at large?

And Blu, these villas are no longer unprotected, the reverse. They have at least two guard dogs, very high walls, electronic gates, alarm systems, even alarm systems linked to the police. The problem is that criminals kill the dogs, know how to silence the alarms, wait for the owners to arrive home and jump on them then (when the gate is opening) or use the time delay between the alarm start and the arrival of the police, which usually is far away and the roads are bad - not their fault, the villas have been built/chosen like that

This is exactly right Maria......I have seen changes over the last 20years with the influx of Eastern Europeans....We had friends who lived in Barao Sao Joao for over 35yrs...they left and moved to France about 7 yrs ago ...they said exactly that....the underbelly was getting nastier due to the EEuropeans....sadly.

Sad to say this is happening with increased frequency in Spain aong thecostas too. We read about simila breakins on a weekly asis through the local papers. And Maria is absolutely right it is all since the opening up of Europe. retired people with comfortable villas are the targets. What a world are we living in nowadays. Am currently having a break on the beautiful isle of Tenerife. A wonderful place to visit, as long as you don´t spend all your time on the Playa de las Americas! Some of the landscape of this island is stunningly beautiful But hard times are here. Construction has all stopped - mercifully - recession is biting badly. Am keeping my eyes open for that little girl. but I doubt she is anywhere in the public eye. More likely to be inland somewhere in any of Spain or the Canaries or Portugal. Too many people are aware of her face now. Just MO.

You never know Rosemary.......

Hope you have a lovely time.I went to Puerto De La Cruz 30yrs ago...lovely and Playa de Las Americas was just an idea in someones head...... Los Cristianos was a tiny one horse town............Oh dear progress !!!