Need Safety advice - first time driving through Sp
We will be driving in our motorhome from Le Havre down to Valencia in a couple of weeks to spend the winter in Spain. We've read quite a few worrying comments about people being robbed by thieves using distraction techniques, i.e. pretending there is a problem with the vehicle, wearing hi viz vests and approaching vehicle. In particular we have heard there have been issues around the Zaragoza area, especially at toll booths, when stopping to pay tolls.
Has anyone in the Club heard about this? Obviously we are careful with keeping valuables out of sight and not opening windows etc. to strangers approaching. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Comments
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Others more experienced will comment on various aspects, but I would make getting toll tags from such as Sanef or ATMB etc a priority. They make it so much easier getting through French and Spanish tolls, and avoid having to stop, find money/cards, lean out of wrong side of cab etc.
weve driven through France several times in last 5 years, and not had any problem with security. I’m sure problems do exist, but don’t let the headlines of a few isolated cases put you off.
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Denise, the ferry might sink, you may have a motorway crash, you could be caught in a flood, or struck by lightning or a falling tree, or be taken seriously ill, or lose your valuables to pickpockets . All those are probably more likely than a distraction robbery on the motorway,
Be confident, be vigilant, keep a sense of proportion and enjoy your holiday. I hope you have a good time.
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The best policy is be vigilant. At service areas I try to park where I can clearly see anyone approaching. Don`t stop for anyone waving or pointing at your vehicle. Keep doors locked at fuel stations and toll areas my own car locks automatically over 5mph which helps. Personally I wouldn't leave vehicles unattended at service areas etc, and I would never stop overnight anywhere but a campsite.
In twenty years of caravanning on the continent we have`nt had a problem but we do keep our eyes open when travelling and work on the principal that dodgy characters don`t like that.
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Hi Denise,
All of the above is good advice. However, the rumours you have heard are quite old and before toll roads were introduced. If you use tolls you should be safe. The predators don’t use the toll roads because they are too easily caught. We have travelled from U.K. to Valencia six times in the last five years and have not experienced anything like that. As for the A non toll and N roads from Northern Spain, including the Zaragoza area, you will be impressed by the continuous visibility of the police. We are in the Valencia area now and will be driving down again with the MH in Feb 19.
Enjoy your trip and Winter sun.
BillC
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Why do you laugh? Do you think I was joking ? 30 years ago a British cross channel ferry did sink and193 passengers were killed. All the other things I listed happen every year.
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We had some joker trying his luck early one Sunday morning in May a few years back on our way from Santa Pola to Orihuela. I'd stopped in a lay-by to take a photo and they pulled in to ask for directions to Torrevieja. You just need to always remain alert but don't let it faze you.
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Hi
Service stations seem to be the new way to try and steal from foreign motorhomes we had a couple of guys try it on at Torrent services on the Valencia A7 ringroad last April, my advise would be never leave your motorhome unattended we go inside one at a time and thats the reason they left us alone and mugged an old Britsh couple in a car and stole paasport and purse. In Spain never stop for anyone unless they have a green uniform on and try and stop on services on toll roads only.
Spain is a lovely country and the crime rate here is pretty good to be honest no worse then the UK infact i often leave my motorhome outside my house which i wouldn't do in the UK.
Phil
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Pleased to say we made it safely through France and Spain with no issues at all. Did encounter some snow and high winds south of Zaragoza, around Teruel on the A23, which lasted about an hour. Other than that all went smoothly. However I did talk to someone who had her handbag stolen in the motorway services restaurant near Valencia, by a couple using the distraction technique. 2 women, 1 pregnant pretending to collapse next to their table. When they went to help her 2 men came up from behind and stole her bag.
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