The chances that you will be a victim of crime are low, but here in Spain, as everywhere else, incidents of petty crime are on the increase. Most crimes are against property, not people, and are committed by opportunist thieves who see a chance and take it.
Protecting your home
We can all greatly reduce the risk of becoming a victim of opportunistic crime by getting into good habits. A few common sense tips to protect your home are:
- Change all the locks as soon as you move in – even on a newly built property as many workers may have had access to the keys.
- Always close and lock all windows when you are going out.
- Have good security deadlocks on outside doors.
- Have a gate that locks.
- Install a safe – and use it.
- Get an alarm.
- Have grilles (rejas) at all windows.
- Don't leave handbags, wallets or keys near to open windows.
- Don't give your keys to workmen.
- If you are selling your property, don't show people around on your own – always use professionally accredited estate agents.
- Always keep the emergency Services' telephone numbers close to your phone, but if in doubt call 112 which is the general emergency number.
Protecting your car
Tips to protect your car are:
- Always lock your car when it is parked.
- Park in well-lit areas.
- Keep all valuables out of sight.
- If you tend to put your bag or other valuables on a seat while you are driving, remember to lock the doors.
Safety in the street
The most common street crimes are handbag-snatching and pick-pocketing.
- Carry your handbag close to you with the clasp facing inwards.
- Carry your house and car keys in your pocket, not in your handbag.
- If someone grabs your bag, let it go.
- Don't carry your credit cards, cash and passport together.
- Don't carry all your cards with you at the same time.
- Never have your credit card pin numbers in the same place as the cards.
- Don't carry more cash than is necessary.
- Use a money-belt and wear it under your t-shirt.
- Don't make things easy for the pick-pocket.
It pays to be sensibly wary of approaches by strangers either asking for directions or asking for help – these approaches may be ploys to distract your attention.
If you are robbed
If you are unfortunate enough to be robbed, you should report the incident to the local police immediately – and certainly within 24 hours if you intend to make an insurance claim, in which case you should also obtain an official copy of your report for your insurance company.
For a non-violent crime, you can make the report by phone on 902 102 112, or on the Internet at www.policia.es. Having made your report you will be given a crime report number, which you take to your local station the following day. On presentation of this number you will be given an official copy of the report. Remember to take with you whatever identification papers you have (passport, Residencia etc.).
A denuncia is a report, so to denounce someone/something is to report them/it. If your handbag is stolen you report it by making a 'denuncia'.
Don't forget to cancel any missing credit or bank cards (always make sure that somewhere safe you have a note of the relevant telephone numbers).
Some useful words and phrases at the police station (we hope you will never need them of course!):
- Me han robado en casa: My house has been robbed.
- Me han robado en la calle: I have been robbed in the street.
- Cartera, joyas, documentos: Wallet, jewellery, documents.
- Tarjetas de crédito, llaves: Credit cards, keys.
For further information or advice contact Costa Blanca Neighbourhood Watch on 96 571 6258.
