Hi all.

Lately we have a wave or thefts and robberies in Spain targetting overland vehicles. The robbers (most of them ussually from eastern europe -not very far from romania - ) target loaded 4x4 vehicles going south (to Africa , that is ). They know that these vehicles carry huge sums of money and expensive equipment (laptops , gps , expensive cameras) ... so they break into as soon as they see one.

Also , -and I have seen that lots of times- foreigners cant' tell easily if an area of a town is good or bad (same as a Spaniard cant tell at first if -say- Brixton is more dangerous than Pimlico ). To my horror I have seen british 4x4s , stopping for a rest or even leaving the car parked in the most horribly dangerous places in Algeciras or Madrid where I woulnd dare to enter in my life.

this one is serious. Never leave your car unnatended in a big city . And the same around petrol stations. Dont' assume that 'cos there are other people thieves are not going to attack . They will.

Also , in the news... some people try to stop a 4x4 by telling him that the tyres are low , or that he is leaking something . As soon as he stops (ussually in a remote highway) another car full of bad-people arrives and the victim is invariantly robbed.Violence included.

so .. in resume :

Avoid stopping or crossing big cities.
Specially avoid Seville if you can .
Never park your car unnatended in a parking . Even if is a private parking.
Lock your car in petrol stations when you go to pay to the cashier.
Never stop to anyone else that a uniformed "guardia civil" (they dress in Green)

well .. hope this helps . If with this post we can avoid even just one incident.. then it will be worth .

happy new year.