Is Marbella Safe?

Dear Jo:
When I first saw your newsletter, I felt like there might be a friend whom we canask questions of. I love it!
My husband and I just booked a cruise and a timeshare trade in Spainfor next April/May (2010). Your recent blog newsletter and many warnings intravel guides about auto break-ins has us worried that maybe we made amistake coming to Spain. Previously, we have traveled to Menorca, and later toFuertaventura. In neither location were we concerned about break-ins. Also, threatsof pick pockets and purse snatchers.
Can you advise us the best way to minimize the threat of break-ins, that is arecertain types of automobile better suited than others to avoiding break-ins, canluggage hidden in the trunk (boot) be safe, etc.?
J


Dear JanIm so pleased you like the newsletter. Here is no different really to anywhere else. Where theres holiday makers theres people that are ready to rip them off....this is everywhere. I got ripped off the minute I landed in New York!
Its still safer here than say in London / UK!
There are break ins here - mainly big villas, then you have petty crime where someone just pops in where a door is open and takes whatever they can - depending on urbanisation how the gardens etc are situated.
Re Cars - dont leave anything on show and my advice now dont leave anything in there of value. OUr car just got broken into in Portugal in a very nice area....nothing on show but we did have over 1,000€uros worth of stuff stolen. Chancers - unemployment is very high - people desperate. Oh and house nor car insurance covered us!
Im hearing alot of bag thefts in car parks where one person distracts you and the other grabs your bag from the car - but this happens all over.
My advice - keep things simple, only carry what you need - keep keys and address separate, money away from credit cards, take a photocopy of every single card and passport. But I would do this in any country!
The main problem is that people come and they become too relaxed leave things lying around, dont double lock doors, dont close windows etc - so many a time its opportunists.
Its not that bad here honest, enjoy.
regards
Jo