Earlier this year we were robbed while at a Repsol garage just south of Barcelona. As we are stuck in UK at present, waiting to get back to Marjal, decided to ring the claim line a NIG.
Story was we (5er) pulled into a drive through dump station and SWMBO got out and using hand signals helped me align the 5er on top of the grate. She would not, however, “open up the sluices”, so I got out to do so, she was standing next to the passenger door. Then a guy, not Spanish apparently, came up to her and asked something about a tap on the wall, about 3m away. She thought he did not know and stepped over to help but as she did so he did a runner. She did not mention any of this to me at the time and we drove off. Later (70 miles) at the toll she told me about it and discovered her handbag was missing. Now I know all of you would know what had/ was going to happen by the second line of this but we fell for it at the time. The guys “mate” jumped in, opened door and away with her handbag. I did not see or hear (remember the sluices) a thing.
Passports, CC’s, spare keys for Navara and 5er, phone PDA etc, total claim £700 not including passport replacements at £300 (not covered).
Result from NIG, no. “You did not adequately secure your vehicle”, i.e. lock the door.
OK pretty valid reason and if I had not locked it when paying for gas or walked any distance from the unit etc fair enough, but I was in contact with the vehicle and believed my wife was at the door. BTW I was on the same side as her but had my back turned. Theft by deception I guess.
Any ideas or should it just be harsh lesson well and truly learned?
JK
Story was we (5er) pulled into a drive through dump station and SWMBO got out and using hand signals helped me align the 5er on top of the grate. She would not, however, “open up the sluices”, so I got out to do so, she was standing next to the passenger door. Then a guy, not Spanish apparently, came up to her and asked something about a tap on the wall, about 3m away. She thought he did not know and stepped over to help but as she did so he did a runner. She did not mention any of this to me at the time and we drove off. Later (70 miles) at the toll she told me about it and discovered her handbag was missing. Now I know all of you would know what had/ was going to happen by the second line of this but we fell for it at the time. The guys “mate” jumped in, opened door and away with her handbag. I did not see or hear (remember the sluices) a thing.
Passports, CC’s, spare keys for Navara and 5er, phone PDA etc, total claim £700 not including passport replacements at £300 (not covered).
Result from NIG, no. “You did not adequately secure your vehicle”, i.e. lock the door.
OK pretty valid reason and if I had not locked it when paying for gas or walked any distance from the unit etc fair enough, but I was in contact with the vehicle and believed my wife was at the door. BTW I was on the same side as her but had my back turned. Theft by deception I guess.
Any ideas or should it just be harsh lesson well and truly learned?
JK