Robbery near Madrid
Discussion
As the holiday season and continental motoring is now underway fellow PHer's should read my story and be warned.
On June 1st 2006 I left the port of Santander to drive down to southern Spain (Estepona). I had negotiated Madrid on the motorway network and was proceeding south on the NIV in heavy traffic in lane 3 when a black Audi with four men undertook me, pulled in front of me and the two men in the rear flashed "Police Nationale" warrant cards in the rear screen and motioned me to pull over. Having pulled over and come to rest in a lay by the Audi reversed at speed and came to rest at the front of my car blocking any exit. Four men exited the car and two men positioned themselves at the rear of the car and two either side of the car. The man on the drivers side motioned me to open the window and flashed his warrant card again. This man then SCREAMED at me that they had had a tip and that I was carrying cocaine and "fake" money. Without going into too much detail of a terrifying experience I was releived of 2000 euros and £900 and some personal effects. It was when I realised that this was a scam that things got very hairy indeed. Fortunately I kept calm and offered no resisitance. The men left at high speed in their Audi. I called 911 and was connected to a police operator that had an excellent command of the English language. The operator directed me to the local Guardia Civil (police) station in Pinto. At the station I made a full statement and was able to give a description of the men and the most of the registration number. I would point out that the perpetrators of this crime were not Spanish but had the appearance of eastern Europeans.
I learnt at this point that this was an organised and regular occurrence. The villains have the ferry time tables and are aware that UK motorists would be travelling through the area at this time. Upon arrival here in Southern Spain and in conversation with a jounalist on the local English paper I discovered that I had got away lightly as an elderly couple a few weeks before had been severley beaten.
In conversations with the police in Pinto this is what you need to do if an attempt to stop you in an unmarked car. DO NOT STOP. If possible dial 911 and ask for the police. If the car is not a marked police car with flashing blue lights and a siren DO NOT STOP.
Should you be unfortunate enough to suffer such an attempt you must notify the police and the English Embassy in Madrid. The warnings on the foreign office web site are wholly inadequate and the local English newspaper have been waging a campaign for the past FIVE years to get them to update the warnings on the site.
I had no idea that this scam was in operation and consequently was drawn into a terrifying and highly dangerous situation.
On June 1st 2006 I left the port of Santander to drive down to southern Spain (Estepona). I had negotiated Madrid on the motorway network and was proceeding south on the NIV in heavy traffic in lane 3 when a black Audi with four men undertook me, pulled in front of me and the two men in the rear flashed "Police Nationale" warrant cards in the rear screen and motioned me to pull over. Having pulled over and come to rest in a lay by the Audi reversed at speed and came to rest at the front of my car blocking any exit. Four men exited the car and two men positioned themselves at the rear of the car and two either side of the car. The man on the drivers side motioned me to open the window and flashed his warrant card again. This man then SCREAMED at me that they had had a tip and that I was carrying cocaine and "fake" money. Without going into too much detail of a terrifying experience I was releived of 2000 euros and £900 and some personal effects. It was when I realised that this was a scam that things got very hairy indeed. Fortunately I kept calm and offered no resisitance. The men left at high speed in their Audi. I called 911 and was connected to a police operator that had an excellent command of the English language. The operator directed me to the local Guardia Civil (police) station in Pinto. At the station I made a full statement and was able to give a description of the men and the most of the registration number. I would point out that the perpetrators of this crime were not Spanish but had the appearance of eastern Europeans.
I learnt at this point that this was an organised and regular occurrence. The villains have the ferry time tables and are aware that UK motorists would be travelling through the area at this time. Upon arrival here in Southern Spain and in conversation with a jounalist on the local English paper I discovered that I had got away lightly as an elderly couple a few weeks before had been severley beaten.
In conversations with the police in Pinto this is what you need to do if an attempt to stop you in an unmarked car. DO NOT STOP. If possible dial 911 and ask for the police. If the car is not a marked police car with flashing blue lights and a siren DO NOT STOP.
Should you be unfortunate enough to suffer such an attempt you must notify the police and the English Embassy in Madrid. The warnings on the foreign office web site are wholly inadequate and the local English newspaper have been waging a campaign for the past FIVE years to get them to update the warnings on the site.
I had no idea that this scam was in operation and consequently was drawn into a terrifying and highly dangerous situation.
Edited for controversy:
For others that wish to take this as a valid warning, above are the official emergency numbers for Spain.
Wikipedia said:
the following are the emergency numbers for Spain:
# Spain: 112, Police: 091, Civil Guard: 062, Fire: 080 or 085, Medical: 061
# Spain: 112, Police: 091, Civil Guard: 062, Fire: 080 or 085, Medical: 061
For others that wish to take this as a valid warning, above are the official emergency numbers for Spain.
Edited by focusonme on Saturday 17th June 11:08
i'd have fooked off as soon as i saw 4 people in it.
not as if they can arrest you if they're at near maximum capacity is it
also as for the 911 thing, not sure but in some european phone networks 911 works the same as 112, same as 999 and 112 work here, perhaps thats the reason.
not as if they can arrest you if they're at near maximum capacity is it
also as for the 911 thing, not sure but in some european phone networks 911 works the same as 112, same as 999 and 112 work here, perhaps thats the reason.
Edited by MeLLoN Stu on Saturday 17th June 02:50
focusonme said:
You dialled 911.
In Spain.
I'm sure your story is a valid warning etc, etc, etc, but at least check the very basic, most obvious details before you post someone's fictionalised account, passing it off as true.
In Spain.
Wikipedia said:
the following are the emergency numbers for Spain:
# Spain: 112, Police: 091, Civil Guard: 062, Fire: 080 or 085, Medical: 061
# Spain: 112, Police: 091, Civil Guard: 062, Fire: 080 or 085, Medical: 061
I'm sure your story is a valid warning etc, etc, etc, but at least check the very basic, most obvious details before you post someone's fictionalised account, passing it off as true.
This is not a fictionalised account. I did dial 911 and was connected to the police. I am sending to you through your profile a copy of the police report. In order for this to serve as a valid warning I would suggest that you withdraw your remarks instantly.
I'm glad you got away without any injury and too much personal loss. However the advise not to stop for unmarked police cars sounds a bit dangerous, although I'm guessing Spanish unmarked cars have "police stop" and blue lights much like ours. I think if someone is just flashing a piece of card at you then stopping would be inadvisable. Anyway, now you've got a great excuse for trying out your GT's top end performance. "Officer, these men tried to stop me in an unmarked car and I was just putting as much room between myyself and them as possible"
Wacky Racer said:
Must have been terrifying for you Clive....
Glad you are OK though.
Could have been worse, they could have taken your car as well..
Are you covered by travel insurance?.....
The cash cover is very limited (understandable) but I will be able to replace the other personal effects, silver moneyclip, camera etc.
Glad to hear you got away un hurt mate. People that do it should 
911 is an international 'through number' to the country's police, no matter which european country you are in 911 will get you through to the police. Even here in the UK.
Also the advice to not stop for unmarked cars is very good advice. I work in conjunction with the police on some areas of my work, and even from the 'horse's mouth' they have told me that its not a legal requirement to stop for unmarked cars.
There were similar scam operators that were stopping HGV's on the M6 a number of years back... they were driving a black Volvo estate with a blue flashing light and a strobe light fitted to the front.
The good thing (if any) about these scammers is that they can only operate for short periods of time before their vehicle and their routine is identified to the local police.
Also the advice to not stop for unmarked cars is very good advice. I work in conjunction with the police on some areas of my work, and even from the 'horse's mouth' they have told me that its not a legal requirement to stop for unmarked cars.
There were similar scam operators that were stopping HGV's on the M6 a number of years back... they were driving a black Volvo estate with a blue flashing light and a strobe light fitted to the front.
The good thing (if any) about these scammers is that they can only operate for short periods of time before their vehicle and their routine is identified to the local police.
Mate, glad to hear that you are OK. It could have been much worse. Scams like this have been reported in all parts of Europe,THIS APPLIES TO THE UK, AS WELL. As you said the bottom line is, unless it is a marked car do not stop.
I have advised my wife and all female friends that if they are driving along any type of road (Mway, A or B road) and an unmarked police beckons them to pull over and stop, they should keep driving, preferably to the nearest police station. If the unmarked car is really a police car, they will be able to get a fully liveried patrol car to you in minutes. I know some tw@t is going to post a reply saying that you are required by law to stop as soon the unmarked car tells you to...blah, blah, blah. Balls to that, keep driving.
I have advised my wife and all female friends that if they are driving along any type of road (Mway, A or B road) and an unmarked police beckons them to pull over and stop, they should keep driving, preferably to the nearest police station. If the unmarked car is really a police car, they will be able to get a fully liveried patrol car to you in minutes. I know some tw@t is going to post a reply saying that you are required by law to stop as soon the unmarked car tells you to...blah, blah, blah. Balls to that, keep driving.
mybrainhurts said:
Glad to hear you're OK.....
How's about organising a convoy and relieving these scumbags of their balls with a rusty knife..?
How's about organising a convoy and relieving these scumbags of their balls with a rusty knife..?
The challenge I have with this event apart from the obvious hassle, is that by and large the UK motoring public is unaware of this type of scam. The advice on the foreign office web site is inadaequate and out of date. Britany Ferries as an example offer no advice or warnings in this area. Over the next few days I will be writing to the British Emabassy in Madrid, the Foreign Office, Brittany Ferries, and my member of parliament. I have already written to my insurer who must issue thousands of green cards per year. However, my fear is as a lone voice I could be lost in the wilderness. Should you wish to support me in this matter perhaps a letter to your MP, your insurance company and the Fopreign Office might be helpful.
911 is not an international emergency number but alot of phone systems will accept it and route accordingly. 112 will work ANYWHERE and everywhere on any phone, it is the internationally recognised emergency number. This is important because if the phone is locked/has no sim or is keypad locked, THIS number will still work, 911 may not.
Similiar happened to my parents in a rental car nr La Manga (on way from airport after landing). Car came up along side them, pointed at the tyre. Dad pulled over. They helped him change tyre whilst another stole his jacket - which luckily was without valuables. My father is convinced they were at the airport watching out for victims and that they may have somehow created the slow puncture.?
Glad you mad it safe. Cash money, a camera, it's an annoyance to get them stealed but they can be recovered. Even the car. But life cannot be recovered.
A friend of mine had an episode, which was slightly more dangerous. Driving in a motorway towards San Sebastian (don't remember exactly the whereabouts in Spain, but it was close to Bilbao) at one point, when crossing on his Porsche at speed underneath a bridge, his windscreen blew into pieces. Kept his nerve, down-shifted quickly to slow down, luckily there was no traffic and was able to pull-out almost blided, after 1/2 a mile. By the time he stepped out of the car in disbelief, he was attacked by 3-4 people, everything very sudden, very quick, they took his car, luggage, everything, and drove off (after getting rid of the rest of the windscreen). A lorry driver helped him after just 3-5 mins, radioed the police, but the car (nor his belongings) were ever found (they could have slipped through a rural road). This happened at around 6 PM.
How they did it? They simply attached a small stone to the end of a nylon string, with someone hanging it from the top of the bridge. When they spotted a potential victim in the horizon, lowered the stone to windscreen level. Bang. Surely needs some skill and some trial-and-error to do it, but in my friend's case, they did it.
Anyway, glad you did not get hurt.
Ed
A friend of mine had an episode, which was slightly more dangerous. Driving in a motorway towards San Sebastian (don't remember exactly the whereabouts in Spain, but it was close to Bilbao) at one point, when crossing on his Porsche at speed underneath a bridge, his windscreen blew into pieces. Kept his nerve, down-shifted quickly to slow down, luckily there was no traffic and was able to pull-out almost blided, after 1/2 a mile. By the time he stepped out of the car in disbelief, he was attacked by 3-4 people, everything very sudden, very quick, they took his car, luggage, everything, and drove off (after getting rid of the rest of the windscreen). A lorry driver helped him after just 3-5 mins, radioed the police, but the car (nor his belongings) were ever found (they could have slipped through a rural road). This happened at around 6 PM.
How they did it? They simply attached a small stone to the end of a nylon string, with someone hanging it from the top of the bridge. When they spotted a potential victim in the horizon, lowered the stone to windscreen level. Bang. Surely needs some skill and some trial-and-error to do it, but in my friend's case, they did it.
Anyway, glad you did not get hurt.
Ed
Exactly the same as on the Plymouth-Dakar this year in Jan, some guys in an Italian car ripped quite a few of our brits off.
Until they met they two Scotland Yard boys in a Citroen BX, who flashed their warrant cards & video'd them & their car. Duly reported them to interpol the works.
We passed through mins after, if we'd known them ****ers they would have been rammed by us in our 500sel.
Until they met they two Scotland Yard boys in a Citroen BX, who flashed their warrant cards & video'd them & their car. Duly reported them to interpol the works.
We passed through mins after, if we'd known them ****ers they would have been rammed by us in our 500sel.
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