10 replies to this topic

[Ken]

Apparently a home was burglarized on Yarım Ada on the 17th of July. It seems to be the work of a professional gang who jimmied open a window, targeting iPads, mobile phones and jewellery. It happened while the guests were out for dinner. It appears that the gang had the property under surveillance. This is all I know right now, thanks to Phil and Colin for reporting this.

[Abi]

Thanks for the warning Ken. I'm not sure if burglaries are on the increase or whether it's just that people are now reporting them on forums so we are hearing more about them. It's important that people don't tell anyone where they are staying or precise details of where and when they will be going to visit different places. If people ask just be vague I usually say I can't remember and point in the opposite direction and say somewhere over there and change the subject or give them a name of a hotel no where near me. It sometimes happens, whilst not very often, that people have visited a restaurant, the waiter asks where they are staying, he then phones a friend and when you get back you find out you have had things stolen.

If you haven't got bars at your windows don't leave them open at night. It doesn't matter if you are 5 floors up, they can get in if they want to. Also be alert if you aren't staying in a hotel to look and see if anyone if hanging around near your house a lot. Lastly make sure that you don't leave valuables lying about the house in full view.

[poppy]

Just heard from Colin that some men were arrested in Kalkan...maybe the same people? Let's hope so.

[Cukurbagli]

There are a few burglaries every year on the Yarımada, the cops usually get them I think. Too many places still being built with labourers wandering around all over the place. The temptation must be great with the signs of wealth everywhere.

[Vic801]

I am shocked to hear so many reports of burglaries in some areas of Turkey. I had just taken our lifestyle here in Cappadocia for granted and am saddened to think that in some years time the same sort of situation will inevitably spread to our region.

Here killing, wounding, maiming are socially acceptable (if you are provoked) but stealing is definitely not, it is about the worst thing you can do.

[sunny]

When I moved to Cesme 20 odd years ago there was very little crime but with a big influx of people from the east (I'm sorry to say) the crime rate has gone up, although, touch wood, not as much as some areas.

[Ken]

Looks like they got 'em. An update from Colin's e-mail list:

Yesterday again a robbery was happened in a villa in Peninsula. The villa owners,a Danish father and his son,catched the thieves.Thieves are also a father and his son are from Demre and starting from Demre they robbed some electronical things(blackberry etc).Police called Fidayit for translation and the robbed things are given back to the owners. Although they are arrested, please kindly inform your contacts and ask them to be careful anyway.

[Abi]

Excellent news.

[Cukurbagli]

Fidayit is a good guy and very helpful.

I was charged 7TL for four glasses of çay in Demre once, needless to say he was disappointed when I gave him 3 TL and told him he was a robber.

[IstanbulWhiteboy]

Summer is a big time for residential burglary since many people leave for a month or more on holiday. The woman who lived in my flat before us was burg'd (on the 12th floor!) along with several other flats in the building; she installed a security door after that, which is very comforting to us living here now. We don't go anywhere without triple-locking it. Kinda makes you wonder, though, what the doormen are doing as these guys are moving what must be a truckload of stuff out of the building...

[sunny]

I agree with you IWB, the doorman is either asleep or in partnership with the thieves.

We had a number of break-ins on our site a few years ago so a couple of the men set a trap and caught the site bekçi (caretaker/worker).