The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) plans that a total of 16.5 million trips will be made during Holy Week. This time of year is one when there is a greater concentration of drivers who take the car to make the trip to their destination. They are often long journeys, requiring stops along the way, either to rest, refuel or regain strength. Aware of this, thieves also take the opportunity to make a killing looking for victims on the highways. For this reason, the Mossos d’Esquadra have shared a video on their social networks in which they offer recommendations to citizens to prevent their belongings from being stolen.
The publication has generated some comments from outraged users who complain about the lack of punishment for these thieves, who are often repeat offenders: “In many other countries there is no need to make these notices, there is a tough hand with criminals, here there is a tough hand if you defend yourself.” ” or “What a dunghill the country has become that you have to warn about this.” However, there are lovers of other people’s things everywhere, so it is advisable to take precautions and listen to the advice of the agents, in this case a sergeant from the Catalan police force.
As he explains, there are two situations in which thieves act: when we are parked in service areas, rest areas or gas stations and when we are traveling on the highway.
In the first case, it is important that when we get out of the car we make sure that the windows are up and the doors closed. We should never leave objects in sight, much less those of value. Likewise, it is advisable to be alert to what is happening around us, since criminals do not act alone. It is common for one to distract us while another accesses the interior of the vehicle to steal our belongings. The sergeant advises us to be wary of anyone who comes up to tell us something just as we are getting out of the car.
In the second case, the criminals deceive the victim while they are driving. Normally, they give him signals indicating that he has some mechanical or wheel problem with the aim of making him stop on the shoulder. Before stopping the car, it is important to make sure that something is really wrong; For example, we can see if there is any illuminated indicator on the instrument panel. If we finally choose to stop the march, we must do so in a safe place. The Mossos agent points out that we should not get out of the vehicle if the other vehicle stops with us: “Lock the doors from the inside and call 112.”
It is not the first time that the Catalan regional police have warned of the modus operandi of thieves on the highway. Despite trying to warn citizens, these criminals always end up finding victims. In 2022, some 3,500 robberies committed on highways and highways were reported. Of them, 350 (that is, 10%) were caused by force inside the vehicle or by theft of fuel; 700 (20%) corresponded to theft of cargo from trucks parked in rest areas; while the vast majority, 2,450 (70%), were thefts due to carelessness or deception.
