We recently stayed at the Novotel at Calle Albacete 1.

Following check out I went to get my car leaving my wife and daughter just outside the main entrance (but within the grounds of the hotel) with our luggage. My wife was approached by a man enquiring whether she spoke French, she replied no but my husband did.

I returned within minutes and started to load the luggage, a rucksack (a.k.a. backpack) was missing. The "French? man was the decoy for a second man who undertook the snatch and drove the get away vehicle. The car had been parked immediately outside the hotel on the hotel's internal road 2 metres from the hotels all glass front entrance.

I believe that we had been selected for treatment by the thieves from the comfort of their car. The hotel manager stated that nothing like this had happened before??. I won?t burden you with the palaver that ensued e.g. tears, hasty phone calls to banks.... Police statements in a foreign tongue etc.

Please be vigilant

Why is "JER" allowed to advertise on this site? It has a real tacky look and feel to the whole thing. I don't buy any lame freedom of expression excuse for allowing it to continue.

All right, all right, I get the hint.

Get ovder it already!

If I could go back and edit all of the threads with the phone thing I could but this board does not seem to allow people to edit there own posts once they arer published, right?

Saludos,
jer...

Well mrbobby, this bobby was also victimized in Madrid--my first time in 22 trips to Europe. I am told that the culprits are primarily sud americanos living in Madrid and they are real pros.
I will spare you all of the details, but it was the old diversion game and they got my camera bag with my Canon and 8 rolls of slides that were shots of the Holy week processions. I was distracted for no more than 3 seconds but they had a 3 person team and the attractive female was the distraction.
I KNEW BETTER BUT THEY STILL GOT ME !
Oh yes--it was Easter Sunday morning.

Good Lord. If they got bobthenavigator, we are all doomed.

Hm... in general, I don't look after attractive females.

You would, Ursula, if they put ketchup on the back of your jacket and then helped you to wipe it off.

Hm... that trick is just SOO old, Bob.

But you might be right, in case it was an attractive male.

I know--I know--I was stupid and have lost all credibility. I must be getting senile.

Did the ketchup come off of your jacket?

I live in Madrid and have seen that trick with mustard. "Condiment Thieves" we call em

Anyway, on the jacket to "help" ya clean it off and help you lighten up your wallet at the same time.

They also aim for the pants leg to see if maybe you have an ankle wallet.

All the time feeling you up and down, eeeek!!!

Then there is the guy who "drops" his lighter or pack of cigs. at your feet so he can feel up your leg as well.

So many tricks so little time, it's worse than computer viruses, 100,000,000 new every day

Saludos from Madrid,
jer...