Playa de Palma hotels to wage war against petty crime

At a meeting held yesterday to address the problem of security in the area, the president of the Playa de Palma Hotel Association, Jordi Cabrer, gave assurances that the findings of the study will be handed to the central government delegate in the Balearics, Ramón Socías.

The report indicates that the majority of the robberies, 76 of them, were carried out on the EMT Number 15 bus which runs between Arenal and the Cathedral terminus in Palma; 44 happened on the beach; 18 were carried out with threats; and 13 were committed on the route of the EMT Number 23 bus.

Last high tourist season, police authorities in Palma went to war on the pickpockets who prey on unwary visitors, by placing plain clothes officers on the bus routes.

Additionally, the Tourist police has started its first year as a back-up force in the Balearics to provide extra help and assistance to the visiting community. Meanwhile, 17 percent of the establishments consulted, confirmed having suffered some incidence of theft from the rooms of their guests.

Twelve percent of these hotels declared having been the victims of more than 6 robberies during the period under investigation; another 12 percent registered more than 2 incidents of theft for the same time frame; and the remaining 76 percent reported one theft.

Once the crimes had been reported to the police, 33 percent of the interviewees considered that action taken by police failed to meet expectations, compared with 42 percent who said that it did, and with the 25 percent who didn't even bother to alert officers of the law.

Fifty percent of the establishments on the Playa de Palma who had fallen victim to theft called the National Police to make an official report, while 33 percent contacted the Guardia Civil and 17 percent, the Local Police.

To get in touch with police officers to file a legal complaint, 42 percent called the 902 National Police number; 29 percent called the police station, and representatives from another 29 percent of establishments interviewed, went down to police administrative offices to report the events in person.

In terms of the frequency with which the interviewed hotels claim to detect prostitution in the area, 86 percent said “never”; 8 percent, said “frequently”; 4 percent said “from time to time”; and 2 percent said “always”.

Cabrer pointed out that in order to take measures to counteract the harmful affects that these events can have on the success of tourism in the area, the hotel association continually launches image campaigns.

Strategy includes the distribution of stickers, bags, and drinks coasters, whilst simultaneously giving a high security profile to the web page of the association where reservations can be made “on line” by clients.