The Bulletin received yet another report of a carjacking involving vehicles coming off the Palma to Barcelona ferry in Barcelona. This is the story of the latest victim.
"Three weeks ago we took our car on the ferry from Alcudia to Barcelona heading for Andorra. Nice big black SUV with Swedish registered plates and ski rack on top. Family inside - Easy catch.
"One of our rear tyres was "knifed" by someone on the ferry car deck crew just before our arrival in Barcelona. Partners in crime were waiting at the dockside ready to follow. We drove off the ferry and up on the highway. Five minutes later a tyre low pressure warning came on. We left the highway and parked at a petrol station to address the problem. The rest of the story unfolded exactly as for the British couple in your recent article. (Item stolen from the vehicle). In detail exactly the same. When we realized what had happened we were just too tired of the whole ordeal and had no interest in hours of filing a report at some police station. We did however later contact the ferry company to let them know what happened on their watch. No reply from the ferry company yet.
"We will never set our feet on a Barcelona ferry again and never ever travel through Barcelona. After our week in Andorra we arranged for a couple of guys to take the car back to Mallorca. We took Vueling."
5 comments
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I don't think this was the work of any of the crew. When this happened to me a man on a Vespa drew alongside quietly and stabbed my tyre. Then it began to deflate so I had to pull over. If the crew had done it the driver would have been alerted by the in-car notification as he left the ship. The fact that the car bears non-Spanish plates makes it a target. And that it's a prestige car so they assume robbery will be worth while. If it happens to you, just sit tight in your car and centrally lock all doors. Use your cell phone to get help. There's nothing the criminals can do while you're locked inside the vehicle. Anyone coming to your assistance within a few minutes is probably one of the gang. Do not be persuaded to get out. Not even for a moment. These thieves are quick. A moment's distraction of you and your bag(s) is snatched. You won't see a thing. If you must use Barcelona port pre-research garages and tyre shops and have their numbers ready. But ask yourself why you're taking the risk? Driving around Barcelona is fraught with danger for tourists so why do it? We use Valencia port now after our experience.
Andy WalkerThese crooks carry knives,
Simple solution is to put a Barcelona sign in the back of your car, or a Barca football scarf, or a sign saying "Policia Formacio" Or if you are in a hire car, stick a Catalan flag sticker over your hire company sticker.
Trust no-one, If anyone gets s flat tyre and is approached, threaten them with something solid. These people have criminal records and will run a mile as they are cowards.
The attack on Tourists driving to and from the UK to Spain and the Balearics is now frought with criminal attacks. For example flagging the car down indicating a problem with the car. Leads to robbery of the stationary car. It happens regularly now in France , Spain etc.