Nancy

Just back from our vacation to Italy and Norway - more on another post. We stayed at Villa Gaidello in Castelfranco Emilia, where we were robbed while we slept one night. We woke to find the screen had been lifted - much of our stuff gone and our car. The police pointed the finger at Albanians, but never investigated. The consulate said they rec'd 5 calls that week with similar robberies in different areas of Northern Italy. Please be aware of this while visiting Italy.

sandi

Incredible! I hope your car rental agency didn't give you too much grief. Hope it didn't spoil the rest of the trip.

Nancy

It was a major hassle. We ended up paying an additional 2 million lire on the stolen car and we had theft insurance! Hertz also did not want to give us another car. Can you imagine? Finally they agreed to rent us another car. I was shocked at the whole process. The bandits had come right into our apartment and took the car keys. The police wanted to know if we thought they used ether on us -- apparently that's the new technique.

Art

Nancy, I'm very sorry for your loss. While I was in Budapest 2 years ago, another couple staying in the same home also had their car stolen. I've tried to see if AutoEurope would provide a club or other secure device, but so far no luck. I may buy one and take it with my on my next trip. <BR>Regards, <BR>Art <BR>

Nancy

Although the car was a major hassle for us, it was more upsetting to know that we were being robbed while we slept in the next room. I would like to know if anyone out there has had a similar experience in Italy. It didn't seem to shock anyone there.

StCirq

Art: AutoEurope has offered me a Club or similar device in France, so I know they have them. They charge extra for them and I've never taken them up on it, but they do have them. It seems to depend on whom you talk to there as to what they will give you. Pays to be persistent. <BR> <BR>

Topper

To the top.

Georgine

Nancy, <BR> <BR>Your experience must have been a nightmare --and I must show your message to my husband who always says I'm too cautious. <BR> <BR>Whenever we travel in Europe to areas of concern for theft or break-ins, I always carry along a small steering wheel club. It fits comfortably in our wheeled rollaboard and was well worth the $15.00 investment for the peace of mind it provides. <BR> <BR>If not else, it certainly is a "visual" deterrent to a thief----I honestly believe they would pass our car by and pick another target. <BR> <BR>The only issue with carrying "the club" in your carry-on bag is the risk of having to remove it and have it sent as checked baggage. This has happened to us on two occasions -- at CDG in Paris and on Czech Airlines out of Newark. However, they simply put it in a large padded bag and gave us a claim check for it. <BR> <BR>

Nancy

It seems odd to me that everyone who has responded to this thread has spoken about the car being stolen. The people who robbed us came in our apartment in the middle of the night and took the car keys to steal the car. I don't think a club would have helped. Bars on the window, perhaps! <BR> Again, the important issue for us was not the theft as much as the safety issue. What if we had woken up when they were in our apartment? I know that they were not looking for a confrontation, but doesn't it frighten anyone to know that my daughter may have woken up or us?

Polie

Yes, it is frightening, but it can happen anywhere. Do you live in a small town? I live in LA and wouldnt sleep with windows on the ground floor open in my own home. A sad fact. <BR>There is really nothing you can do except stay at places with bars on the windows and put a travel alarm on your doorknob. Maybe put an alarm on the window too. I have stayed at places where I have slept with one eye open.

Sue

Nancy, I am very sorry to hear about your frightening experience. I didn't post before because I have been trying - unsuccessfully - to think of a way a traveller could secure a window. Perhaps someone else has an idea.

Smokey

Nancy: <BR> <BR>What a frightening experience! One that I never think about when traveling. Yes I think about my rental car with luggage being broken into..but having someone come into the room!!! Was this a hotel or appartment? I also hate to say this, I do not want to sound like a biggot but....Italy is being overrun with refugees from other lands, especially Albanians. Some are leaving for a better life, others are comming over for "Opportunities" of crime! It is a shame, especially for the working Italians. It is happening all over Europe. I guess now we have to be alert during the day and night! <BR>JOHN

Nancy

I was staying on the second floor of an agriturism establishment in the Castelfranco Emilia area of Italy - about a 1/2 hour from Bologna. The place was beautiful and very well known, but it was secluded and the restaurant was closed that night -- which made it even more quiet. The police did point to the Albanians that have come into the country. <BR> I just want to make people aware that this is going on and to be cautious in ALL their surroundings.

nancy

Nancy, <BR>Just getting computer back in action! <BR>You mentioned a robbery in a reply. <BR>Boy, it does sound scary, and being so far from home makes it worse, I bet. <BR>My house was once broken into, and it left me with the strong sensation of being <BR>invaded, and violated! <BR>One expects to be able to sleep "safely".!! <BR>Sorry! <BR>

Heather

Nancy, <BR> <BR>I had a very similar experience 5 years ago in Amsterdam, so I know exactly the feelings you have. Forget the car, the idea of what COULD have happened is more frightening than anything else. I was sharing a room with 3 other people at a 1-star hotel in Amsterdam. We woke up one morning to my friend yelling, "They took everything!" While we were sleeping someone came in a robbed us. I had my travel pouch on the nightstand next to my bed. The theives had gone through it while they were in the room, opened up probably 5 different zippers and velcro pockets to get money out, and then left the pouch right where they found it, with my passport in it. It was nice of them to leave me the passport and not just take it all and run...but that means that they were standing over my head and rummaging through the pouch, obviously making noise with the zippers and velcro. Since they were so confident that they wouldn't wake me up, it leads me to believe that they had use some type of gas on us. <BR> <BR>I'm so thankful that nothing worse happened to either of us...unfortunately not everyone is that lucky. Take care...and be safe!

Polie

Like I posted earlier, get a door travel alarm and put one on the door and one up against a window. Then the alarm will wake you up, before they can gas you.

Friend

Hi to all. <BR>Please let me add a BIG WARNING to everyone traveling. <BR>First,I'm originally from a small city in NW Florida, a rich neighborhood on the best side of town and I would never sleep with the windows open. <BR>HOWEVER, after having lived in Italy for 15 years in different areas (many in Sicily)(Puglia, Campagnia, Lazio, Peidmonte, and now Lombardia) PLEASE, EVERYONE coming here to visit, read and believe. These things happen here everyday and night and we don't even think twice about it when it happens to someone. <BR>Years ago, in Sicily, when it was hot and people would sleep with the windows open but the wooden verandas down, burglers would gas them to make them sleep hard, and then lift the verandas and steal anything in their house. <BR>Things have just become gradually worse as time goes by. <BR>In the north, Albanians are a really big problem. <BR>They commit pratically all the crime here. <BR> <BR>Please always sleep with the doors and windows closed. Try to find places that offer AC. I know that we all like places out in the country( my family too), but when you are at an agriturismo place, see if they offer some type of surveilance. <BR>Otherwise, don't stay on ground floors. <BR>Go as high up as possible. <BR> <BR>I don't want to scare everyone off, as Italy is wonderful. You just have to take precautions. Tourists in any country are easy targets, and crooks always know where to find tourists. <BR>I am home a lot (US) and it is no different there. <BR> <BR> <BR>

elvira

Cityfolk know the rules, but even we tend to let down our guard when traveling, so Nancy did us all a favor by slapping us upside the head: <BR>1) Unless your window has bars or other thief-deterrent measures, don't open it. <BR> <BR>2) Hot? no airconditioning? no bars on the window? Don't open any window on a fire escape. Ask for a room on a middle floor (first floor, accessible from the street; top floor, from the roof). <BR> <BR>3) Don't take a room near the stairs (duh). <BR> <BR>4) I cannot ever stress this strongly enough - please please PLEASE never ever ever fight for property. Let whoever take your money, your car, your passport, your jewelry - yes, I know, it is your grandmother's wedding ring, but do you really think she'd want you to sacrifice your finger - your life? - for it??? Go ahead, ask your mother right now "Mom, if I were wearing your engagement ring, and a bad guy said he'd hurt me if I didn't give it to him, what do you recommend I should do?"

Nancy

Elvira is ceratinly right. I learned some very important things. Just because a place looks beautiful -- be aware that that beauty might just be its downfall. <BR> <BR>Villa Gaidello is in the remote countryside -- no owner on premises during the night -- no bars on windows -- ledges around the old buildings that make any room a target -- no phones in the rooms. All in all not a secure location. <BR> <BR>Elvira's tips are crucial. I was so aware of gypsies and street thieves and not aware of this kind of theft. If someone had just told me before I left, it would have saved me from so much aggravation. <BR> <BR>I think it is perfectly fine to ask about security when making reservations and keep Elvira's tips in mind. Thanks Elvira!

xxx

How terrifying, Nancy! Thanks for sharing and reminding those of us who are carefree and trusting that, though rare, these things can happen (I'll share a bizarre one, too). <BR> <BR>Does anyone have a toll-free or web address for a company selling the travel <BR>door alarms (or is that a Home Depot item?) <BR> <BR>I'd like to think 'it'd never happen to <BR>me', but..... it '86 while at a 3-star in Brive, France, a hotel employee I'd been simply courteous to unlocked my door and entered the room at about midnight. He was drunk. I screamed my lungs out, grazed him with a pair of scissors; people and police arrived, and I was questioned more than the guy was. <BR>He claimed I'd invited him in. It was pointed out that I had been in the hotel <BR>bar with a girlfriend that night...oh, my!! <BR> <BR>I've never had any other incident in 25 <BR>years of travel. I refuse to be intimidated but will be 'en garde' 24/7! <BR> <BR> <BR>