DREAM HILLS – VECINOS COLABORANDO (NHW)

Meeting held at La Casita on Thursday, 2 June 2005, at 18.00 hrs.

Present:                       Chairperson                   -           Jan Rennison

                        Main Co-ordinators         -                       Gerald & Denise Mills

                        Secretary                      -                       Kath Allen

Street Co-ordinators       -           Carol Brookes, Bob Harris, John Williams, Gran Annable,
                                                Peter Brooks, Colin Bingham, Doug Hunt

Apologies:       Roger Ingram, Tony Chapman, Joe McEvielley

Jan opened the meeting and welcomed those attending.

Only two written reports have been made since the last meeting - one bag snatch on 24 April at 22.30hrs. on the main road close to Via Park III, and one house robbery on 21 May at 04.30hrs., fishing rod method through downstairs open window.  Several incidents have been heard by ‘word of mouth’.  It is important to make written reports to NHW co-ordinators/main co-ordinators as lack of written reports to the Police results in lack of police presence on the urbanisation.  Denise and Gerald now have a form for reporting of high crime areas and requesting more Police presence, and we are assured that the Police will accept these forms and will react.

With the holiday season now upon us, it was agreed that a notice should be placed on the notice boards similar to last year’s, warning holiday makers of the dangers of  leaving open doors, grilles, windows, shutters when going out or spending time on the rooftop solariums, and especially when retiring at night (or in the afternoon).

Yet again alleged ‘charity’ workers (this time supposedly on behalf of the Red Cross) in the area prompts a further reminder that door-to-door collection of money for registered charities is illegal in Spain.  We repeat –  DON’T GIVE THEM MONEY, and if they become abusive, a threat of Police involvement usually results in them moving speedily away.

Denise has a list of suspicious car registration numbers, provided by the Police.  Unfortunately, we cannot publish them, but one in particular – a silver or light blue Puegeot containing two well dressed men, has been seen driving slowly around locally, looking at houses.  In one area, three burglaries followed.  People arriving at Alicante Airport have been followed in their hire cars, flagged down and stopped in the Santa Pola area by people asking for directions.  Whilst one person distracts them, another helps him/herself to the contents of the back seat or boot. 

There is an e-mail scam at present from the official Caja Madrid website, and internal investigations are taking place.  It is a message saying the due to recent incidents, clients of the bank should take care and that they should send their bank details by return e-mail.  Anyone receiving this message should ignore it, or check with their bank by means other than e-mail.  It is an attempt to obtain details of bank accounts for fraudulent purposes.  

BEWARE!   Handbag snatching is still prevalent, particularly outside banks, shops and supermarkets.  Everyone should put wallets and purses away securely before leaving these premises.  Should anyone have their handbag/wallet/purse returned to them following a snatch/burglary, it is imperative that any debit/credit cards are cancelled immediately, as many thieves now have handheld scanners which copy cards quickly.  Also, utility bills – Iberdrola, Aguaguest, are extremely useful to fraudsters.  With YOUR utility bills they are able to open accounts, obtain loans, credit cards, store cards, even purchase large items such as cars, all in your name, and it is a time consuming and stressful business trying to prove that you were not actually the person responsible for these.

The ‘REPSOL’ scam has raised it’s ugly head again.  Persons actually working for Repsol call on clients, saying that they have come to check on gas appliances, charging exorbitant fees to do the work.  Repsol personnel will always make an appointment to carry out this work, contacting clients by telephone or letter, and appliances have only to be checked every 5 years.  However, this 5 year check is important as without a certificate confirming that this check has been carried out, should there be a problem with a gas appliance resulting in damage to property, your home insurance is invalid.

We now have two Security Guards patrolling the urbanisation between 10pm and 6am every night.  One is on foot, the other on a motor scooter, and security code information has been circulated to residents to avoid language problems.  There will be liaison between these Guards and Gerald & Denise on a regular basis.

Date of next meeting:  Thursday, 7 July 2005, at 18.00 hrs. at La Casita.

KEA                                                                                                                  5 June 2005