Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:32 pm Post subject: If your going to Spain this was posted on the XT web site...worth a read...
And was also posted on bmwgs.co.uk by dazzerrtw



I thought it was only about 10 years behind the rest of the world.
it seems we are more like dick turpins time
Just got this from a biker friend in Spain .
BE CAREFUL AT GUARDIA CIVIL CHECK POINTS

The other day, a senior police officer, Sr. Manuel Piedrabuena, told a police conference about a new activity of robbers on secondary roads.

This information comes from a good policeman who wants people throughout Spain to be aware of what is going on.
It seems that a gang, mainly Rumanian including people from Bulgaria and Poland, are disguising themselves as Guardia Civil, with similar uniforms, tri-corn hats, but non-standard pistols.

They even have cars similar to those of the Guardia Civil.

Because their disguise is not very effective in the light of day, they do their dirty work at night.

They wait until a car appears and stop it at the side of the road.

They say that they are checking for drink driving and the result of their test is always positive even if you have not been drinking. Naturally, most people will challenge this result and that is when their game starts.

They will tell you that perhaps the machine is not working properly but that they have another machine fixed in their car which will determine the result.



THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE LIE!



As soon as you get into their car they will rob you of everything, money, credit cards, mobile phone and whatever they find in your car. The big problem is that they can use your cards straight away and you can do nothing because they are in control.

The Guardia Civil NEVER ask you to leave your car and they NEVER ask you to take a breathe test in their car.
On some occasions they can be very, very violent.
Be very careful if you are stopped by the Guardia Civil on secondary roads; keep your mobile phone ready so that you can call the POLICE.
If you keep reporting this gang which is causing havoc we will break up the entire organisation and their numbers will be reduced.
We must all watch out and use the power of the internet and the public to fight this threat.
If we allow this gang to get away with it, all the other criminals will be headed for Spain.
SEND THIS MESSAGE TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS FOR THE BENEFIT

__________________
'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
Never confuse the map with the journey.

I had a similar incident going through Madrid.

An unmarked 'police car' pulled along side me whilst driving the motorway through Madrid.

The passenger of the car flashed a police badge at me through the window and ordered me to pull off the motor way at the next exit.

Thinking the situation to be unusual I ignored the demand and the 'police car' buggered off. Had they been legit they would not have just left me to carry on without responding to their orders.

If you experience a similar request, be very suspicious. Overlanders traveling south through europe are known to be carrying cash and expensive gear. Consequently we are increasingly targets for cons.

Cheers

John

Hi all,This email has been circulating for about 5 years and the people mentioned do not exist. There is a very real danger that because of reading it, people will not stop at a legitimate checkpoint and please bear in mind that the police in Spain are armed.Here is an article that i read a few eeks back, which sprung to mind when i saw this posting.Costa News - Hoax email alert

__________________
'Never worry about things that YOU cant change'

Hi, I am not sure this is a hoax, but understand the danger of not stopping for a genuine police stop / officer.

I have a friend who has lived in Spain for many years, he warned me of this last year, he said around the Madrid area. I was travelling down from Picos De Europe to Cordoba thru the extremadura. I doubt he would have fed me a duff story as I travel with my daughter (three at the time) and wife.

He said that they normally have un-marked police cars and not to stop unless there is a "proper" car, i.e Green & White.

Either way, it is a bit of a worry.

Dan

__________________
Cheers Dan
gettinglostagain.com

Dan, do you not think that maybe your friend thinks its a real threat too? and just posting the "helpfull" advice like this threads author has done too?

It may be true, it may not, but if people start waving guns and shooting at me I'm going to pull over and stop!

G

__________________
Land Rover D90
www.Siroccoverland.com | Follow us on Facebook

Really? If people start waving guns and shooting at me I'm going to f**k off as fast as I possibly can; the last thing I would do is stop....

Hi,

Not sure if something got lost in translation here, but I am agreeing with the helpful advice by the author of this thread. :confused1: I think the advice I received from a friend was because it was seen as a possible threat.

I think if guns were waving I would struggle to decide on stopping or putting my foot to the floor!

__________________
Cheers Dan
gettinglostagain.com

I dont know what you guys drive, but my 2.5 ton land rover 90 is no contest for a car in Gardia Civil livery . Rather than get shot in transit, i would rather pull over. why risk it? they may be the real 5-0! Which was the point i made to Dan earlier. Lee posted a link saying that these rumours had been going around for years etc etc. Its entirely possible that its a hoax. How many times have you seen emails and posts that are just non-sense.

Too many.

We had no problems driving the length of Spain in our "standout" land rover 90 in the day or through darkness.

G

__________________
Land Rover D90
www.Siroccoverland.com | Follow us on Facebook

More information here.

Tim

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Thanks Tim and excellent research here. The info you give puts a different light on this thread. I hope people travelling to Spain read your info.

I am sure that there have been incidents like this in the past, in every country in the world.

I think we should all, always be on our guard and watch for anything suspicious.

Even a hoax email gets our attention and sharpens the mind.

Lee

__________________
'Never worry about things that YOU cant change'

I´m spanish, I´ve been riding Spain for 20 years and It´s the first time y have heard that tale of fake Guardia Civil. I can´t believe anyone could disguise themselves like GC. The real GCs don´t make jokes at all. And no one could get away with it. The real way of robing people on our roads is provoking a little accident. When the car stops to see the damage and write all the insurance paper, the bad guys get everything they want, even being violent.

If you see a GC car, you´d better stop. We have serious problems with terrorists, police are aware of them so it could be very dangerous trying to runaway. They can mix you up.

Spain is still a very good place to ride. Sun, food and bends.

__________________
www.miquelsilvestre.com

I remember something like this was happening in the Teesside area about 15 years ago. The scam involved a Ford Granada with a police sign in the back window, pulling motorists over for speeding and convincing the driver that new on-the-spot fines had been introduced. Personally, I wouldn't be stopping for an unmarked car at night, especially while driving through the middle of nowhere.

In Amsterdam there have been instances where fake police have stopped tourists to look into their bags "for drugs" and then taken valuables from their bags.

Isn't the bends bad for you?