Do you think the France is not forthright in their reporting and treatment of this problem? Now that we are here we are encountering horror stories about auto thefts when parked at inns and at tourist locations in broad daylight. Police of very little help, shrugging their shoulders and saying "that's what happens" and not patrolling areas or making efforts to protect tourists. Has anyone experienced this? We have heard of several incidents already into our stay (3 days so far)! These tourists have been as careful as possible (ie luggage hidden from view in the trunk, not leaving items displayed in plain sight, using money belts, etc) but the thieves identify rental cars by the license plates. So it is easy pickings!
Posted by
albany
355 posts
They aren't as common as they use to be because they are not at all effective. So very few new cars are sold with them and very few people purchase them after market. Other security devices are more effective.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Where has it happened? And have you spoken to the actual victims or was it just what somebody heard and repeated?
Posted by
OP
Portland, Oregon, usa
34 posts
It has happened in Provence. The two car thefts were in Aix-en-Provence and we ate dinner with one of the couples. We are in a wonderful private villa near Nimes where the home owner has repeatedly warned us not to leave the gate to the home unlocked even when we are home as two homes have been broken into near here. Thugs with bats have entered the high wall and gone into the homes to assault the residents. I suppose these home assaults might be hear say but I would doubt that the gite owner would want to scare his customers away. By the way, they also live within the walled courtyard. these are not really fancy, high end homes either but rather country homes but easily identified by the rental cars parked outside the walls.
Posted by
Paradise
7046 posts
According to 2004 information provided by the Allianz Insurance group, France is an easy place to lose a car to thieves. It ranks 3rd in Europe behind Italy and Great Britain, with 7 times more stolen cars than Germany.
Posted by
OP
Portland, Oregon, usa
34 posts
Another weird thing that we have noticed (or not noticed!) is car alarms. Are they illegal now? Seems that would be a deterrent but a real nuisance too. Come to think of it, I don't hear them at home so much anymore either.
Posted by
Monein, Pyrenees, France
425 posts
You could leave your car running with the keys in outside our hotel all night and no-one would touch it. Someone might complain about the noise though. Our local Gendarmerie is not manned at night - nothing happens around here. Sounds like you are in a REAL nice area!
Roger