Mugging in Duqessa

Today (18/03/09) a friend of mine was robbed in Duqessa in broad daylight.  She had just left her place of work and was getting in to her car when a car with 2 men in it pulled alongside and asked the way to Sotogrande.  It would appear that this was a distraction as when she got to the Mercadona she noticed that her handbag had gone.  While she was talking to these people someone must have sneaked around her car and lifted the handbag.  BEWARE! 

Also, the wife of a colleague was mugged a few weeks back outside Lidl's in Sabinillas and the 82 year old mother of a friend has been mugged twice in Estepona and has now been reduced to being wheelchair bound (only temporarily I hope).  I don't know who these scumbags are or what nationality they are, I can guess though, but I hope the police start using those guns they so proudly strut around with.

 Our neighbour is a local policeman and he was telling us that it's becoming quite a big problem now as so many people are out of work.

These are definitely times to have your wits about you.  We know of other cases in Duquesa...one where someone was held at gun point!

Justin

So you can´t be helpful down here then. We will have to stop giving directions and hide our bags in the car to avoid all this mugging. Disgusting!

Ana

I think everywhere you have to be careful - and obviously with the current climate there will be an increase in crime.

Even here we have had the same sort of thing happening (in fact for some years) - someone stopping you, saying you have a flat tyre and once you get out of the car an accomplice lifts your bag!

You can still be helpful, Ana - although be helpful from a locked car, through a partially open window!

I have also heard about two incidents while we were there this time, same thing about asking for directions and it was just beside Billy's fish & chip shop,  we will all have to take extra care.

I have spoken to my friend who was robbed and she said that it was a big posh (?) car that pulled up alongside her with 2 very well dressed men inside it.  Her handbag was on the passenger seat but she never realised the car door had been opened and closed.  She went to Manilva policia the next day and they were very good with her.  They told her that they had had 4 incidents reported within a week and that there have been a spate of robberies in Sotogrande where these big cars are being stolen.  Apparently the men were of Albanian/Armenian type and there are also reports of them working with a well dressed woman.  I've also been told that in some of these house burglaries knock-out gas had been thrown through an open window, but I can't confirm that for sure.

More muggings in Duqessa in May.  The latest one involved a husband and wife just coming out of the Bar Duqessa and some scumbags were hiding behind the plants at the back of the Pizza restaurant.  They hit the wife and grabbed her bag.  The husband gave chase but lost them.  Apparently there have been about 3 incidents in the last week but there is absolutely no police presence in the port.  I don't know if this is because the incidents weren't reported, or the police just aren't interested, but something needs to be done, and soon, or people are going to give Duqessa a miss, and with trade the way it is thanks to the recession that's the last thing local business's need.

Dear orda,

thank you for the warnings, it is helpful to prospective visitors to know what is going on.

I tried to post it onto the Duquesa Village site as useful information, but they don't like any negativity posted in case it puts off renters.

They are busy removing all posts involving dogs mess, subsidence and muggings in case it affects their income.

Try it for yourself.

Keep it up, this forum is supposed to be "telling it like it is" but the cracks soon show when income is threatened.

Regards

Norman

Hi Normansands and thanks for the support.  That's my whole point if all the traders don't get together and do something about it, and stop brushing negativity under the carpet, then they will have no trade to worry about. The port is a lovely place which deserves better.  The dog mess is disgusting and people who allow their dogs to do it should be prosecuted.  I wonder do they have the equivalent of neighbourhood watch out here as that might be a solution to some of the problems?

 Gosh you lot down there are really up against it arent you! I dont think the Spanish have an equivalent of a citizens arrest or private neighbourhood watch schemes, but I guess you could set one up, as long as you called the local police if there is an issue then you should be fine.

Hopefully you get things sorted out, Duquesa is a nice port.

Hi - we have Neighbourhood Watch here on the Costa Blanca (Vecinos Collaborandos) so I'm sure you will be able to find a group in your area if you do a Google search. 

Crime here (so far) seems to be mainly related to property rather than attacks on people, and I certainly feel much safer here than I did back in Glasgow!

Normansands, get it  right before you post your venom!

Orda posted about Duquesa Port - not Duquesa Village, which are you are well aware is not the only development in Manilva!!

So hold back on your vitriolic comments until you get your facts right.

Muggings are happening everywhere - sign of the times unfortunately - even here in Dubai!

There have been no muggings in Duquesa Village - or anything else that may bring joy to your life!!

Edited to say:  And Orda you are quite right, something has to be done about it.  But it must be taken up with the police and the town hall, and possibly El Hacho, as the port comes within that macro community (even though the council are meant to have taken over responsibility for it).  See Manilva Life forum for more on this.  There should be more police presence in the port - at the moment there is none!

Normansands...what goes through your head when you write this stuff...people should know that you just go round individual forums upsetting people with your snide comments about things which are nothing to do with you ..you are not helping anybody you must know that. We know your IP address so anymore chinnagins you will be banned ..

Dear All,

as a partially disabled OAP holidaymaker I cannot contemplate chasing muggers around Duquesa, village or port.

So I am concerned as everyone should be, including those making profits from letting.

Perhaps those profits should go towards a neighbourhood watch type operation?

If the muggings are genuine and on the increase they should be posted as legitimate warnings.

What is going on Justin? Who are the unelected power brokers controlling the forum?

I have reported the last post with the following comment:-

what is this all about Justin?
Has Eye on Spain been taken over by a distressed renters police state?
Norman

Regards

Norman

normandsands, did you post about the muggings on the Las Brisas, Duquesa Fairways, Duquesa Suites, Marina de la Duquesa, Marina Real, Monte Duquesa, La Vizcaronda, Mikonos Playa, but to mention a few, development forums as well as Duquesa Village development forum?   We know you like to antagonise owners on certain development forums - and you are obviously of the opinion that all owners, whether they are renting out, living in or using their properties howsoever, are not competent enough to read the General Forums for themselves!!  Hence why you so thoughtfully chose to post on the DV development forum?????  Out of concern?????

You seem to forget that there are thousands of British, Spanish, and other nationalities who LIVE in Spain - not ALL people on this forum rent out their properties and NOT ALL people have lost money through their own decisions while investing in Spain!!! 

Anyone who knows sees exactly what you are doing and why you have targeted DV.

Normansands...this insincere show of concern is typical of you wanting to cause a stir..and well done you have ..I see you live in Kent..i hope you show the same concerns about crime in your area ..isn't that where Kenneth Noye the police and M25 killer lived. I hope you harranqued all the local papers and noticeboards about the criminals living in your area...all those peole making fortunes on their houses and crimes being committed there..you won't like that  ..you are going to get banned .

Dear Pitby,

I do my best to ignore the "sillies" and their posts..........and mostly I succeed.

However please do not attribute to me anything other than my desire to quash or resist all the silly spin that seeks to promote the "all is wonderful in Spain dream" nonsense. Most especially when it hides and denies the true negatives. That I regard as deception, plain and simple. If that deception then misleads anyone to part with money on holiday renting I consider it to be a disgrace.

I have no idea what you and others paranoia is referring to.

If I recall correctly my interest in the village site was prompted by your bare bottom advertising and was then held by the construction problems - subsidence cracking - ground movements etc.

It was further held by the sub-prime purchasers and renters with their balcony dogs etc. which to my mind turn a holiday complex into just another municipal urbanisation and the whole dream collapses.

If there is anything else you need to know please ask.

Regards

Norman

normansands, i don't need to ask you anything - you are hardly qualified to answer any question that involves property ownership in spain and only serve on this forum to deride those who enjoy living in and/or owning property in the country.

i'm astonished that EOS allows you to continue to post as you do on certain threads as your agenda is obviously just to antagonise and denigrate others.

had you chosen to buy and then pull out of/lose your money in a property on the Costa Blanca, say, instead of the Costa del Sol, no doubt you would be doing the same to anyone who chose to oppose your views on any development forum in that area and wouldn't have chosen DV.

you are extremely transparent in your intentions and not clever at all - although saying that I have risen to your bait because I can't stand offensive people.  but no more - you really are not worth the energy.

the best thing EOS could do is to highlight the problems of any muggings in a post they themselves may choose to make, in a locked thread, for all to see, if they feel it appropriate, and to delete this thread altogether.

no offence Orda, at your well intentioned message.

I think people can have good or bad experiences regardless the country. Spain has a lot of issues to sort out but that does not mean everybody is having nightmares here. We have some very happy experiences reported in other threads. Research and exploring before buying in Spain helps make your mind up. Let´s keep the faith and stay positive.

I look at it this way:

If anyone has had their fingers burnt, been ripped off, and now know the pitfalls and how to help to avoid them....

Then I am sure that person can use the negativity that surrounds them, embodies there ever waking thought when it comes to Spain and it's problems, by adding constructive negative comments, and in that turn a negative into a positive outcome in knowing you have helped someone else avoid the same.

As if you just come across as being plain old negative about every subject, which is possible, then that in turn will cause people to flee from your cause, and not rally to it.

I am sure that this is what most if not everyone on this forum is trying to achieve., by sharing ones experiences and trying to help a community that is worldwide, and yet resolute in their unified cause, and that is to help people make the most of their dreams and aspirations.

Techno..couldn't agree more ...but this person is not doing that ...he is just hijacking threads when an internal issue has been raised for the benefit of that community and deriding and belittling people for having the nerve to try and succeeed with their own hard earned cash and buying a dream in Spain. He is not helping one iota ...i have never seen a constructive comment from him.

Colin, that's fine, but when forum members resort to possible libelous statements as in normansands stating:

"It was further held by the sub-prime purchasers and renters with their balcony dogs etc. ......"

it must be dealt with.  When forum members contribute nothing but hostile remarks, emanating from their own bitterness at their own loss, then that must be dealt with.  If, indeed, EOS choose let this thread remain, and normansands derogatory remarks, then can we also post about the numerous - and violent and in one case that I know of fatal - muggings in, say, the Costa Blanca, Barcelona, etc., etc., etc., to project some balance???

Orda chose to post about muggings in Duquesa, because that is where he lives (or in the surrounding area) and normansands jumped onto it for personal vindictive reasons - nothing more.

Dear All,

Lets hope that when the "sillies" have finished shooting the messenger some proper measures will be attempted to solve the problem instead of trying to hide it.

The holiday experience of being mugged on the steps of the restaurant must have been very traumatic if not an actual nightmare.

Hopefully the lady was not badly hurt..

Is it just one of those things that we must accept here, like the gypsies who approach you for pennies for flowers, but when you reach for your purse promptly combine mob-handed to mug you for it. This in a crowded shopping centre in broad daylight.

At least you can give them a wide birth once warned.

No surely something can be done.

Regards

Norman

Let me explain a little bit of what normansands is about ..........

Earlier in this thread you will find an entry he has made and I have repeated here below

Dear orda,

thank you for the warnings, it is helpful to prospective visitors to know what is going on.

I tried to post it onto the Duquesa Village site as useful information, but they don't like any negativity posted in case it puts off renters.

They are busy removing all posts involving dogs mess, subsidence and muggings in case it affects their income.

Try it for yourself.

Keep it up, this forum is supposed to be "telling it like it is" but the cracks soon show when income is threatened.

Regards

Norman

The point I would like to make is that Norman refers to his posts on the duquesa village forum being disliked becuase "it puts off renters".  Where did this come from !!!!.   obviously this is the mesage he wants to put accross.  I suspect the reality is that his posts were removed or edited by the EOS team becuase they must have broken one or many of the rules of the forum.  Also, I am not aware of any muggings in duquesa Village and in fact the only mention of it I have come accross is in the postings that norman himself made in this thread.  Again, his agenda and his message that he wants to put accross.

This is my view, I would encourage anyone to have a look at the numerous development forums and the postings norman has made and make up their own mind.
 

Yes, Steve, that just about sums up the man's intentions - nothing really about the muggings, just about DV!

Dear All,

if anyone has been offended by my posts please accept my sincere apologies, there was no such intent and not something I recognise in my nature.

I admit I have teased Pitby slightly over her choice of avatar but only in fun.

Just because I may not agree with you on all issues does not represent derision of any kind. Sorry if anyone has thought otherwise.

As to the "conspiracy theories", they baffle me, I just do not have the intelligence, sorry to disappoint.

Have a good day.

Regards

Norman

Dear All,

I think I should clarify the gypsy mugging incident as a warning.

We were approaching Leroy Merlin store when two gypsy ladies stepped forward one with young child in tow offering token wild flowers in semi-begging mode.

My daughter was sympathetic and reached for her purse for the small sum they asked for, only to have it snatched from her hand by the two acting in unison. They both then ran off through the crowd, leaving the child to follow with the younger slimmer one in the lead, racing at high speed with the purse.

The staff at the shop treated it as the norm with no action necessary.

So beware.

Regards

Norman

Hi Jan, John & Steve,

My previous post in this thread was aimed at one person in particular and done so whilst offering an 'olive branch', however if this person continues to offend other forum users then there is only one possible outcome, and we all know what that is.

The Eye on Spain forums is all about freedom of speech but as so many users have said, that doesn't allow any particular person the freedom to say whatever they like without taking into consideration the ramifications of those remarks, as they could not only be offensive but also possibly slanderous.

So we must all take heed.

Now to get this topic back on thread which was taking about muggings in the port of duquesa.

I live in Duquesa, La Vizcaronda to be precise, which is right next door to Duquesa Village and both of our communities have excellent security, and there have never been any muggings in either urbanisations. Nor has there been any other crime that has been evident in El Hacho area, and on this I refer to the cars that have had thier tyres slashed of recent. And BEFORE ANYONE says anything about my last comments, this is the 1st time it has happened in my area to my knowledge and this type of vandalism is everywhere, so please no snide comments from anyone!

The police are always patrolling around all areas and the port, all though I must admit I have seen less police activity in the port of recent, which I think as concerned citizens we should point this out to the Town Hall.

There has been the odd mugging in the area, such as the one in Duquesa port recently, but then again if you take all these isolated incidents into perspective and look at the area and it's populous, you will find that the likes of Puerto Banus have far more crime than we could ever envisage in this area.

I appreciate why Orda started this thread, which was more to highlight the fact that in this day and age one must be very security conscious even when on holiday, and always maintain vigilance when out and about.

This being said, I originally come from Swansea, and there are more muggings there this last week than you would get in a year in the Duquesa area. I then moved to Barnstaple in Devon some 14 years ago, and can also say that the same type of crime there is FAR worse than it is here. And as for larger towns such as Cardiff in Wales or Exeter and Plymouth in Devon.... nuff said! I always made sure that the Mrs was on my right and walking just in front, that way I could keep an eye on her bag and also who was behind us.

And as for Kent... well take a look at all the recent news about gang culture and street crime... you don;t get gangs of youths around here.

So, we have to take it into perspective and not get intimidated by this sort of thing!

Just remain calm, vigilant and security conscious... wherever you live or holiday in the world today!

I think EOS is fantastic, it has provided me with a lot of useful information and there are many sincere members. I've been away and off line for a little while and have just come back and read this thread. I find it very disappointing and actually quite offensive the tirade against Norman Sands. I don't know this man but having read his posts I simply cannot see why there has been so much hysteria and vitriolic comments against him. If he caused such wrath why hasn't the original poster for daring to put this information on in the first place?

There will be people who  have had bad experiences, we came very close to not having our house or our money earned over a lifetimes hard labour,  and I know if that had happened I would find it very difficult to have anyhting good to say but but would certainly have a lot to say to warn others, that is is I survived the stress etc at all. These experiences and opinions balance out those that may give the impression that everything in Spain is fab and there are no problems, which for some people this may be true.

As for communities not wanting bad things said about them I know this can happen. On our urb it's considered a hanging offence to speak publicly about the mismanagement, lack of maintenance etc. and anyone who dares to be critical is classed as a troublemaker because it will affect their rental market.

Perhaps we should all try and be a bit more tolerant,  we are all different and have different ideas, thats life.

Regards, Poppyseed

Poppyseed

well said indeed. I fully agree about  being a great site, the useful info' and  the many sincere people on this forum.  You also make a good point about the tirade against Normansands.  I do feel the forum is aimed at those who are happy with their lot in Spain, and that's fine, I can understand that they have had enough of the well reported problems and want to be positive about the good things about life in Spain.  I fully understand that, and it's great to have a forum that concentrates on the 'good' side of Spain.  It's what we all wanted in the first place.

If someone posts negative just to wind people up and upset anyone who is happy with their lot  just for fun (as just dan used to before being banned) then I agree there is no place for them on the forum. If however people are pointing out bad things in a certain area, however bitterly,  then I don't feel it's fair to accuse them of being 'negative' or 'trouble makers'.  We have to face the fact that many people have been treated in an appalling way in Spain, and very often through no fault of their own. The system of corruption, lack of regulation and dreadful slow and poor justice stinks, and is the reality for many cheated out of huge sums of money, as various petitions and numerous posts about it quantify.

So people, however pleased  you are with your situation, please try to be patient with those who for whatever reason are going through hell with their Spanish experience. Change is happening slowly, but many face huge problems that lead to a feeling of utter bitterness and resentment. Many who post have a right to be angry, frustrated, and if they are made to feel guilty when they tell it like it is, it just makes people feel they are being kicked when they are down. Perhaps we should all look out for those in life not so fortunate as ourselves for whatever reason not in their control?