Personal Safety

I have just bought a lovely apartment on a development in the Costa Blanca and had a lovely weekend cleaning and sorting it out with masses of shopping for furniture. We had a great time (apart from the lousey weather). On my return to the UK I was shocked to hear that a friend of mine who was also out completing on his little bungalow a little inland from us was robbed. Apparently he and his wife were just parking outside their bungalow when some chap asked them to move the car up a bit so a lorry could pass them - as they started to move the car the rear windscreen was smahed and then the passenger side window was smashed and one of the men snatched my friends wife's handbag. They made off at speed in (I believe) a stolen car. The story is apparently Eastern Europeans come across to spain and target the tourists in hire cars in just this way. A few weeks robbing and they go back to wherever they came from. I am due to go back again soon with my sister and I am concerned about our safety. Can anyone advise me about the spanish law on carrying some sort of defensive weapon - pepper spray or a metal baton perhaps? I would feel happier if I had something and would not hesitate to use it if necessary but don't want to end up being arrested by the Spanish police. Any views or useful weblinks would be appreciated.

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This message was last edited by JeansSis on 5/16/2007.

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Whether illegal or not I think that you would find yourself supported by the police if you took positive action - they abhor incidents like this particularly when women are the victims - not sure about the iron bar and not sure how subtle it is but some type of spray could be a good idea. Just be vigilant all the time and if something looks supicious proceed with caution.

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