SAFETY AND SECURITY IN GREECE
How is Greece in 2014? Margaret Williamson, May 2014
In March 2014 we returned to Greece after a 2-year absence.
We stayed away in the winter of 2012/13, disturbed by reports of theft
(especially from foreign tourists). We had personally experienced the danger
from illegal immigrants, who thronged the old ferry port at Patras and squatted
near the port at Igoumenitsa.
We had also begun to feel uneasy cycling on country roads,
where groups of illegal immigrants could be found, even in remote mountain
villages. Read the warnings we wrote at that time: A Greek Warning October 2012 The Greek Tragicomedy 2012 What's Different in Greece in 2012?
Happily,we can now report that there are no longer problems
at the ferry ports, where crowds of young men hoping to reach Italy used to
hassle trucks and tourists alike, even (as happened to us twice) those arriving
from Italy! On arrival in March 2014 we saw no sign of trouble at Igoumenitsa,
nor at the new ferry port in Patras (further south along the waterfront,
opposite the Praktiker store), which was well fenced and guarded. It seems that
illegal immigrants or asylum seekers have been rounded up, and we saw none
throughout the Peloponnese (unlike Southern Italy and Sicily, where they are
still very much in evidence).
The roads, streets and villages are also free of illegals
and, cycling in Greece, we certainly feel safer than in the UK. Away from
cities, the roads are quiet and the drivers friendly. Again, it's very
different from Italy and Sicily. Even though fuel is now much cheaper here than
in Italy, Greek drivers cannot afford to go joy-riding at speed and many have
laid up their cars and returned to using small motorbikes.
As regards security of the car, motorhome or caravan though,
there is no room for complacency. At Sparta we have just met a Dutch couple on
their first tour of Greece in a new motorhome. Sadly, they were on their way to
Athens to have a smashed cab window and broken door lock replaced. Thieves had
broken in to grab their SatNav (leaving camera and phone untouched) – not in a
remote place but on the busy car park of the Lidl store at Messina, near
Kalamata, where they were shopping. A store we know very well! It seems that
no-one in the car park had intervened, the smash & grab robbers had gone,
and the shop staff were unsympathetic and unhelpful (not their responsibility).
The Dutch notified the police (a requirement of their insurance) and had to
spend several hours going through paperwork in Greek with officers who didn't
speak English. There seemed little prospect of an arrest!
Some simple precautions would have prevented this. For
example:
On a supermarket car park, leave
one person inside the motorhome if possible, while the other(s) go shopping. Supermarkets
are a favourite place for break-ins and we've had similar reports from
motorhomers in France and Sicily.
If you have to leave the
motorhome unoccupied:
always unplug the SatNav and hide
it (along with other valuables).
Always set the alarm.
Close the blinds (then thieves can't see what you have, or whether the vehicle
is empty).
If there are two opening cab doors, chain them together.
This website contains a number of articles on security precautions
written by motorhomers who have had personal experiences, particularly of being
broken into overnight while free camping! Motorhome Security: Rod Heeley Motorhome Security: Martin Wiltshire 1 Motorhome Security: Martin Wiltshire 2 Motorhome Security: Christine Strawson Motorhome Security: Ian and Sue Motorhome Security: Advice for Truckers The subject is also covered fully under 'Security' in our A to Z of Long-term Motorhoming
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