This page is about crime and what you can do to prevent it.

PERSONAL SAFETY

ProsegurIt is the job of the Police to fight crime, but we can help to bring crime down. Most crimes are against property, not people, and not many crimes are carefully planned.

Most crimes are committed by young men on the spur of the moment when they see the chance: possessions left in cars or when a door or window to a house is left open. But you can try to reduce the risk by securing your car and home. This will also help the Police, by giving them more time to tackle serious crime. That is good for you and your family, because it makes your neighbourhood a safer place to live.

The chances that you or a member of your family will be a victim of violent crime are low. Nevertheless many people are frightened that someone close to them may be the victim of an attack, and the best way to reduce the risk of attack is by taking sensible precautions. Make sure that your house or flat is secure. Always secure outside doors. If you have to use a key, keep it nearby, you may need to get out quickly in the event of fire. Don’t give keys to workmen or tradesmen, as they can easily make copies.

A telephone extension in your bedroom helps you to feel more secure because you can phone the nearest Co-ordinator or the Police when needed. Never reveal information about yourself to unknown people and never say you are alone. Equally, keep all keys out of sight at all times. Thieves may steal them and then return to finish their crime at a later date. If you think you may have mislaid your keys, get them replaced immediately.

Use only your surname and initials in the phone directory, on the doorplate, and, if you have one, beside an entry system button. If you see signs of a break in at your home, don’t go in, see your nearest Coordinator in your area or phone the District Policeman or the Police. If you are selling your home, don’t show people around on your own. Please use professional accredited estate agents. When you answer the phone say only hello, don’t give your number. If you receive an abusive or threatening phone call, put the receiver down beside the phone, don’t say anything and walk away. This allows the caller to say what he wants. Come back later to replace the receiver. This may help the Police trace the caller. Always keep the emergency services’ telephone numbers close to your phone. In a panic situation you might forget the correct number. If in doubt call 112.

OUT AND ABOUT

Carry your bag close to you with the clasp facing inwards. Carry your house and car keys in your pockets. If someone grabs your bag, let it go. If you hang on, you could get hurt. Your safety is more important than your property. If you walk home in the dark, get a personal attack alarm. Carry it in your hand so you can use it immediately to scare off an attacker. If you go running, jogging or cycling regularly, try to vary your route and time. Stick to well lit roads with pavements; avoid short cuts or dark alleys; walk facing the traffic; if a car stops and you are afraid scream and shout; get away as quickly as you can; don’t hitch-hike or take lifts from strangers.

If you think you are being followed and you have double-checked by crossing the street, try to go to the nearest place where there are other people. Don’t go to a phone box, as the attacker could trap you there.

PARKING PLACES, TAXIS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT

If you are going to be out late, try to arrange a lift home or book a taxi; check that the taxi collecting you is the one you ordered; get the name of the taxi company and sit behind the driver. When you arrive home ask the driver to wait until you are inside your house.

On Public Transport try to stay away from isolated bus stops, especially after dark; sit near to the driver. On a train, sit in a compartment where there are several people. If you drive a car, think about getting a car phone; make sure that your car is in good condition; keep doors locked when driving, and keep any bag, car phone or valuables out of sight.

If you think you are being followed, try to alert others by flashing your lights and sounding your horn. Make as much noise as possible. If you can, keep driving, until you come to a busy place, a police, fire or ambulance station or a pub. Make sure you have enough money and petrol. Always carry a spare petrol can, warning triangles and a torch. After dark, park in a well lit area. Look around before you get out. Have your key ready when you go back to your car. Make sure there is no-one in the car.

Never cross the carriageway to use a phone. Look around. If someone approaches you, lock yourself in the car and speak to them through a small gap in the window, try to move your car and get away.

PERSONAL POSSESSIONS

A thief only needs a moment to make off with your valuables. Your coat hung up in a restaurant, your briefcase beside your chair; even your cheque book and cheque card left on the table while you pay the bill. Don’t look away; try to be careful at all times. Money, plastic cards – please don’t make it easy for the pick-pocket. Keep your purse and wallets safe at all times. Keep your cheque card separate from your cheque book – a thief needs both to write a cheque. Never let your handbag out of your sight. Have a safe in your house. Watch your mobile phone and your passport.

HARASSMENT. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. ASSAULT

Everyone can help protect their community, family and their home by taking the simple crime prevention measures described in this booklet but some crimes fall into a different category. They are committed for purely racial reasons. Racial harassment, domestic violence, assault at home, at work, in the Community, on the street – the Police and Neighbourhood Watch can help you. Help us to help you!

ALCOHOL AND DRUGS

Most people are aware that drinking to excess can damage their health. Drinking and driving are the main cause of accidents on the road and off the road. Young people, like adults, need to know how to drink safely.

Set a good example by drinking sensibly yourself. Children pick up their early knowledge of alcohol by watching adults and are strongly influenced by what they see.

The problem of teenage drug abuse is a universal one, with most other countries facing similar issues of their own.

ABSENCE FROM HOME

Most burglaries happen when a house or flat is empty. Don’t advertise your absence when you are on holiday or even out at work or shopping. Mark your valuable possessions with your postcode or other identification.

CAR

Over a quarter of all recorded crimes are car thefts or thefts from cars. It is a problem that affects us all no matter where we live. It takes up valuable Police time and can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences. Keep your car safe, make sure that all doors and windows are locked; don’t leave belongings in your car, nothing must be on display; remove the ignition keys; always try to park in a well-lit location. Look around at all times.

HOUSE AND GARDEN

A lot of burglaries can be prevented. Most are committed by opportunist thieves and in two burglaries out of ten the thief does not have to force his way in because a door or window has been left open. Burglars like easy opportunities. They don’t like locked windows because breaking glass attracts attention; they don’t like security deadlocks on doors because they cannot open them even from the inside and they have to get out through a window. So have good doors and windows with double locks; good gates and fences; secure your garage; get an alarm. By putting some chairs, shoes, towels on the terrace it makes it look as if somebody is in the house.

Bicycles and Motorcycles are a popular target with the thieves because they can be easily sold. They should be locked whenever you leave them, even if you are just going into a shop. Mark their frames.

Make sure that your garden shed is always locked and that your garden tools are well stored and secured.

PROTECTING YOUR COMPUTER

Computer equipment is an increasingly popular target for thieves. Mark your property. If you have a portable computer, keep it out of sight.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

This is the new website www.nhwinspain.com

The web site is now live so please encourage everybody to register and use it. What you will see is that there are various links available from the site.

What we would ask is for you to let us have the following so we can put the links on the site for the benefit of everyone

  1. If you have your own NHW web site let us include it.
  2. speak to your Policia local or Guardia Civil and get permission to include their web address
  3. speak to your town councils and ask permission for links to the town hall site and tourist info sites
  4. Links in your area to community and association sites such as Help

I feel sure they will agree to the link once they view our site I would only ask you to ask that they put a link to our site in return from their site.

This would benefit all.

www.nhwinspain.com

CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE – URBANIZATION’S SUBCOMMITTEE

A Central Executive Committee for the Costa Blanca Neighbourhood Watch Association has been formed to organise, develop and set up the vecinal scheme for any urbanization or town on the Costa Blanca. Once the scheme has been set up by the Central Committee, the urbanizations or barrios implementing the scheme will form their own Urbanization Sub-committee and will select their own coordinators. The Central Executive Committee is formed of a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, a Secretary and a Press Secretary.

An urbanization’s Sub-committee is formed by a Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer.

Both the Association Central Committee and Urbanization Sub-committee should be elected every year at the AGM and can be re-elected. Both Committees should meet on a monthly basis and Sub-committees should have there own monthly meeting with their coordinators.

RESIDENTS AND CO-ORDINATORS.

The Residents, without obligation, keep a discreet eye on any suspicious situation whether this relates to people, or vehicles, or vandalism or any other strange act in their area. The Residents will report any important information to the nearest Co-ordinator. The Co-ordinator will pass the information immediately to the District Policemen or Local Police or Guardia Civil. In some cases the Residents should contact the Police directly, especially if the situation is considered serious. This is a useful deterrent.

KEEPING RECORDS, DATA PROTECTION, COMMUNICATION.

Keeping information within the law. Data helps the Association to develop. Speak with your neighbour, communicate with your Co-ordinator; be friendly with everybody.

YOU AND THE LAW

You must be reasonable when facing serious situations.

LOCAL POLICE AND GUARDIA CIVIL

With police officers and interpreters available at their local stations, the Police, respond to all the Residents or Coordinators phone calls or faxes. The Local Police and Guardia Civil personnel pass the information to the patrol and surveillance Policemen in the area.

Once the Local Police or Guardia Civil have investigated the case they will contact the Association with the results of the investigation.

ROTATION SERVICE BETWEEN AREAS

There is a rotation of information service between the different urbanizations and barrios of Torrevieja, especially relating to stolen cars and suspicious or wanted people.

DENOUNCE

The Local Police and. Guardia Civil recommend that you make a denuncia. Please don’t be afraid to denounce.

If you have been robbed or assaulted please go to Guardia Civil at La Loma, 03180, Torrevieja. Take a passport or residence papers with you.

For further details of the Costa Blanca Neighbourhood Watch scheme please contact the secretary on 96 571 6258

Useful Phrases when dealing with the Police:

Mi nombre es: My name is:
Mi domicilio (Yo vivo) I live in
Está cerca de It’s near to
Tengo un problema I have a problem
Me han robado en casa My house has been robbed
Me han robado en la calle I have been robbed in the street
Cartera, Joyas, Documentos Wallet, ,jewellery, documents
Tarjetas de Crédito, Llaves Credit cards, keys
Tengo intrusos en mi casa There are intruders in my house
Amenazando a la gente Threatening people
Rompiendo, Dañando Breaking, damaging
Pantalones: Trousers
Camisa Shirt
Fuerte Constitución Strongly built
Coche robado; Abandonado Stolen or abandoned car
Gamberros Vandals
Dañando propiedad Damaging property
Mucho Ruido, MÁºsica Alta A lot of noise, loud music
Robando en una casa Robbing a house
Coche sospechoso A suspect car
Gente sospechosa Suspicious people
Pelea en la calle Fight in the street
Violencia doméstica Domestic violence
Drogas Drugs
Amarillo Yellow
Verde Green
Rojo Red
Azul Blue
Negro Black
Blanco White
Gris Grey/silver
Rosado Pink

Prosegur are proud to sponsor Torrevieja Neighbourhood Watch

One of the most effective deterrent’s against opportunist thieves is a monitored alarm service. Most crime in Spain is opportunist and alarms, quality grilles and secure locks go a long way to protect your property. Prosegur and Costa Blanca Neighbourhood Watch have partnered to offer an unbeatable package on the installation of a monitored system.

Prosegur will supply and install a fully-monitored system using your existing telephone line FREE OF CHARGE. The only additional cost is a low monthly monitoring fee. For full details of this offer please contact the Prosegur Area Manager Juan Luis Rodríguez on 616 358 412 (English, Spanish, French, German) or alternatively by email to juan-luis.rodriguez@es.prosegur.com He will be pleased to arrange a no obligation security survey. Please note to claim this offer you must quote the Neighbourhood Watch offer which is now available throughout Spain.