scorpio76

just take a lot of caution when traveling by road especially around the Barcelone/ Valencia areas,
The Dutch authourities have advised that motorists should travel in convoys going.south If you park in a service area, always leave one member of your party in the car, failing that, you may well have your tyres slashed, and on re entering the motorway you will be flagged down by a couple of helpful eastern europeans who will gladly help you reduce the weight in your wallet. It is unlikely that they will assault you , as under Spanish rules they can be deported for that, where as just for robbery only a fine.
However , there is always a first time, so just be very careful and street wise.

Jeff801

Just a year ago, we spent 12 days in
Spain, driving around this area with no unusual precautions or incidents.

What has changed in a year or were we just unusually lucky?

car

Are you sure this information was for Spain and not for Zimbawe?

Don't tell me now that a friend from a friend had his tires robbed while having a coffee in service area. HAHAĦ

scorpio76

Jeff, I think you were lucky, but obviously not every tourist is caught.
Funny how one always gets the clever guy like Car, who thinks it will never happen to him. The Spanish tourist authority have released a warning on there web site advising tourists to be extra vigilant.

flanneruk

Two years ago, a friend of mine was due to stay with me on her way home from a holiday in Spain.

She arrived - far later than arranged - in a state of extraordinary distress, having suffered practically the exact treatment scorpio describes. Only she did get assaulted - not terribly seriously, but this friend doesn't hand over her handbag unless someone uses a bit of violence. And she believes the culprits were Spanish, not eastern European.

This friend is no novice at travelling. She's worked in a dozen or so of the world's poorest countries, and has travelled - by herself - round a few dozen more. Always - till the fateful trip to Spain - unscathed.

It obviously doesn't happen to everyone. But one driver's safe journey doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist.

lincasanova

this is not zimbawe but what has been posted is absolutely true.
and not from a friend of a friend.. and if so.. what difference?

this is happening ALL THE TIME in spain and especially on the tollroad between barcelona and valencia.. just as the poster has said.

it was going on years ago, dies down and now is back by a differnet team.

i know a person who had his entire brand new top of the line car STOLEN at the rest area.

and yes.. he locked it.

if you are driving a piece of garbage, you are probably alright as long as you have spanish plates.

but beware. at least you have been informed.

car

I travel very often on the mediterranean Highway From Valencia to Barcelona and back.The same thing for 5 another people in my company. And I can tell you out of our personal expirience that never, ever we have had any problems.
It is true that there have being cases , specialy during the summer in the French, Italian and Spanish highways that in rest areas, people had their goods stolen.
So it is sound to be aware of the dangers and act accordingly but your post, and i quote it now,

Quote"The Dutch authourities have advised that motorists should travel in convoys going south"
"always leave one member of your party in the car" Unquote

Simply stinks.

lincasanova

obvioualy it is a very small percentage of people getting robbed (thank goodness) compared to all of us who travel this route.

however, it is wise to know to take serious precautions. we always watch our car from the windonw of the café, and if we have valuables ( skis, or visible luggage), one person DOES stay in the car. we take turns.

so, i , too, car, could say that nothing has ever happened to me, and i have been travelling this route even before the tollroad. but i certainly don´t dispute this advice.

there are all sorts of travel warnings about countries with this type of theft, and spain is one of them.