General Crime Prevention Advice Together with nearly all the countries of the World, our part of Spain suffers with its fair share of criminal activity. However, it is probably no worse and in fact is a lot better than in other Western countries.We are fortunate on the Orihuela Costa that we have in the Policia Local, Guardia Civil, and Policia Judicial very professional security forces. We in the Vecinos Colaboranda together with these forces and with the co-operation of the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) feel that a lot is being done to prevent and reduce crime in our area.It is, however, important to highlight the types of Crime we are experiencing on the Coast. This is not intended to frighten anyone but to put as many people as possible on their guard so it may be made more difficult for the criminal to strike. Remember, most crime in our area is of an opportunist nature. Do not invite the thief to steal. Vehicle Crime Visitors are quite often followed from the airports and whilst unloading luggage from the car, they are robbed of handbags, etc. Do not leave luggage and bags unguarded. When parking the car, do not leave anything on show. If the thief wants something you have left on view, no matter of what value, he will break into the vehicle to steal it. When loading your car at the supermarket or shops, never become engaged in conversation with anyone you don't know. No matter how well he or she is dressed they may distract you whilst property is stolen. House Crime Do not allow anyone into your house unless you know them even though they may claim to represent authority. If in doubt, call the police. When you are in the garden or on the patio, always secure windows and doors, even if you think you are close enough to them. Persons arriving should be particularly vigilant, as many people have had intruders whilst away visiting supermarkets and restaurants on the day of arrival. Never leave anything valuable that can be seen through windows even if you are present in the house and all the doors and windows are secure. This especially applies at night when you have retired to bed. Street Crime Handbag theft is unfortunately quite common in the commercial and leisure partsof our area. Don't carry a handbag unless absolutely necessary. Looping the straparound your neck and shoulder does not help and can result in greater personalinjury when snatched. We advise residents and visitors to carry with them only things that they need to carry. The thief is looking for an easy target; if you provide one he or she will strike. Beware of cars being driven slowly in your vicinity. When visiting Banks, put away money, cards etc whilst still at the counter even if there is a queue. Most Banks have large windows through which criminals can see the transactions. Similarly when using cash machines, protect your PIN number and inform the police or bank if anyone is loitering in the vicinity of the machine. Never accept an offer of help unless you know the person involved. If you are unfortunate to have property stolen, always cancel your Bank Cards even though they may not have stolen them. Thieves quite often carry hand scanners and are able to copy cards quickly.In the event of a theft your local Vecinos Colaborando Co-ordinator and committee members have the necessary forms to be completed for the local police which can reduce the time spent when reporting the crime.We hope you spend a happy and pleasant time in our area and by being aware of the types of crime that can occur here as well as any where else in the world you will not have your visit spoiled. Emergency Telephone Numbers All emergencies (Spanish, English, German, and Scandinavian spoken) 112Guardia Civil Torre de la Horadada 966 769 143Policia Local Orihuela Costa 649 900 304Bosque de las Lomas I Vecinos Colaborando Co-ordinatorDavie Lee Casa This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.