Attempted Theft In Spain

[Markymark]

Usually these post start with ‘a friend of a friend told me’ however this one is actually first hand.

Someone tried unsuccessfully to rob us on the main road near Alicante airport.

As we were driving along a car pulled up alongside and the lady gesticulated madly at the back of the van. We have had a couple of issues with the bike cover so it was possible it was dangling down. They pulled ahead and pulled off onto a not very wide hard shoulder. I pulled in front of them at which point they pulled out and went in front. My suspicions which had been raised were elevated further when they pulled out and went in front.

The man and lady got out and said we were leaking gas. I assume they meant leaking fuel as the gas from our cylinders wouldn’t be visible and the chances are we would have smelt it.

I went to the rear with the lady and the man tried to get Sue to go to the back as well. Being of a suspicious mind I locked the doors with the go. and locked Sue in and the man out.

The man kept trying to get Sue to get out and go to the back of the van but of course the deadlocks stopped her. Clearly he wanted a free run at grabbing handbag/wallet etc.

Their car doors had been left wide open (for a quick exit) and cars and lorries were travelling very close to it and a few vehicles hooted (possibly to warn us). I told the lady there was nothing wrong and when saw saw that I had locked the van (indicators flashed) and Sue wasn’t getting out she shouted to her friend and they took off like scared rabbits before we could photograph them.

I had previously read about The ‘your car/van has a problem’ Being an old scam but had expected to be involved in one and it is easy to overcome if one of you stays in the car. Next time we would get the camera out straight away and start photographing our ‘helpful’ driver.

We were away for over five weeks and did over 4600 Miles through France, Spain and Portugal and had a great time which I guess might have been somewhat tainted if the con artists had been successful but they weren’t and can’t wait to go again.

 

[andys]

Thanks for sharing, some good tips in there
Glad the a*holes didn't ruin your hol!

 

[Tourershine]

Another good reason for a dash cam.
I might be wrong, but i'm sure the perpetrators of these types of scams, or any that involves a vehicle, must look to see if you have a camera or not.

 

[micksea]

there"s an ad campaign on this kind of scam in spain on national radio recently,must be on the rise

 

[keith baker]

Thanks for the warning which I'd read about elsewhere. We're catching the ferry to Santander in the morning,then heading down to Granada for 3-4 weeks, so we'll be wary of Spaniards waving us down.

 

[Markymark]

To be honest they may not have been Spanish and the ladies accent seemed Eastern European but irrespective of nationality it is sad that you cannot assume positive intent and have to be sceptical regarding peoples motives. Still forewarned is forearmed.

 

[Gavandi]

Glad all ended well.

Keep posting warnings or tips like this ..... most helpful.

 

[Caulkhead]

I lived in various parts of Spain for 30 years, and this always used to be a very common approach but mainly between The French Border past Barcelona down to Malaga, all european nationalities try it, if it happens to you just keep driving ignore anyone except uniformed Guardia Civil Officers.
These people have been known to slash tyres if you stop.

If you are worried that something may be wrong pull into the next Motorway Service Station and check it out in the pumps.

This used to be a very common ploy, it happened to me once when I was driving a much bigger vehicle, but in this instance they stepped out in front of me waving tools, I just ploughed straight on through them.

On another occasion, I was in a Gas station filling up with gas, I always lock the vehicle if I’m outside anyway, when two men came over trying to get me to look under the van as though I had a leak, so that one of them could try the door locks, my wife was watching all of this, and shouted at them , at which point they jumped into a car and made a rapid exit,incidentally they didn’t buy any gas they were just hanging around looking for opportunities.

It’s not that Spain is in so much dangerous as any other European Country but there are a lot more of this type of person around, so just beware.

You don’t get this sort of thing happening so much from the Portuguese border up through Galicia and along the North Atlantic Coast to Hendaye, which is the best part of Spain for touring, they have the very best beaches, scenery, Mountains etc and empty Autovias, cheap Hotels, Camp Sites, food is so so much better and cheaper and if you like fish,shellfish and wine then this is your paradise.
Plus there are just so many places to wild camp and a lot of free running water.

Hope this helps

 

[Loz]

I think you have to wary of anyone approaching your vehicle to “ask” questions etc.
Friends of ours and part of our trip of 8 vehicles were in the hyper market carpark at Algeciras and a couple approached them whilst he was returning the trolley one spoke to our friend in the passenger seat whilst the other very quietly opened the the rear door of their Nissan patrol and stole their bag containing passports and cash etc.

 

[Markymark]

I lived in various parts of Spain for 30 years, and this always used to be a very common approach but mainly between The French Border past Barcelona down to Malaga, all european nationalities try it, if it happens to you just keep driving ignore anyone except uniformed Guardia Civil Officers.
These people have been known to slash tyres if you stop.

If you are worried that something may be wrong pull into the next Motorway Service Station and check it out in the pumps.

This used to be a very common ploy, it happened to me once when I was driving a much bigger vehicle, but in this instance they stepped out in front of me waving tools, I just ploughed straight on through them.

On another occasion, I was in a Gas station filling up with gas, I always lock the vehicle if I’m outside anyway, when two men came over trying to get me to look under the van as though I had a leak, so that one of them could try the door locks, my wife was watching all of this, and shouted at them , at which point they jumped into a car and made a rapid exit,incidentally they didn’t buy any gas they were just hanging around looking for opportunities.

It’s not that Spain is in so much dangerous as any other European Country but there are a lot more of this type of person around, so just beware.

You don’t get this sort of thing happening so much from the Portuguese border up through Galicia and along the North Atlantic Coast to Hendaye, which is the best part of Spain for touring, they have the very best beaches, scenery, Mountains etc and empty Autovias, cheap Hotels, Camp Sites, food is so so much better and cheaper and if you like fish,shellfish and wine then this is your paradise.
Plus there are just so many places to wild camp and a lot of free running water.

Hope this helps

Loved Galicia, Asturias, Cantabrica and Basque areas. Definitely an area for an extended visit eg couple of months or more.

 

[Roadrunner]

I think when they drove in front I would have twigged and drove off, you can always stop somewhere else if your worried

 

[SofaKing]

No normal person would ever lift an eyebrow to help any stranger these days.

 

[Tourershine]

No normal person would ever lift an eyebrow to help any stranger these days.

I actually go out my way to help people if I can, and see it as my good deed for the day. Only today an old chap dropped his wallet in my local bakery, and after watching 2 people step over it, I picked it up for him.
He didn't say thank you mind, and I did pinch a tenner to pay for my bacon rolls, but I felt good afterwards.

Then again, you did say no 'normal' person.

 

[Mojo]

No normal person would ever lift an eyebrow to help any stranger these days.

Unless you're on a motorbike...