Crime levels

[TomUK]

The "Algarve Resident" has a lead story in the latest issue about a survey they have carried out amongst residents regarding the effects of crime in the region. One slight flaw is that they don't give details of how many people took part in the survey, or where they lived. The article will have your head spinning with its welter of percentages and findings. However, one percentage stood out for me. They say that 91% of people who responded knew someone who had been burgled last year. Obviously, without knowing how many took part, this 91% may be misleading, but is does seem that people are getting worried.

What do you folks who live out there think about these findings?

[Gambrinus]

A voluntary survey has no objectivity whatsoever because it is not representative. It is regionally biased and in no way represents a cross section of the opinions of the Algarve's expat community.

Randomly interviewing a few thousand people on the streets from east to west would have yeilded a representative result, but that online poll was totally worthless. Sad that they didn't bother and even sadder that the poll was used to make (read: fabricate) a headline.

[TomUK]

I suspected as much!!

[shanagarry]

Did they include a question about a Property Management company defrauding its clients

[EMM]

ONe of the positive things about this forum is the depth of balanced opinions.

I have expressed simllar views about this survey the paranoia regarding incidents of crime and the threat of crime voiced on the Albufeira forum. The reactions were to say the least negative.
We were discussing theese " headlines " with friend who live in the Albufeira area and they believe that there is a very vocal minority who to be fair may or may not have experienced crime whose views are being given more credence than they justify.

[jkspoff]

Crime is on the increase irrelevant of any unproven statistics by a local newspaper, areas like Carvoeiro are rich pickings for criminals who are finding the Euro just too expensive to survive on without resorting to petty crime. Examples of this are all across popular holiday destinations throughout Europe and will only get worse as making ends meet becomes harder and harder for those less fortunate than wealthy tourists.

[shanagarry]

It would be very interesting to see the definition used for 'Crime" in this particular instance - for example:

- Is Fraud included?
- Is Drink Driving included
- Is shoplifting included

In the main, as far as I can see, Burglary and Theft from cars are the primary areas addressed. That being the case, what % of the overall criminal statistics do those aspects account for - assuming of course the survey comprehensively covers the lot.

The earlier reply by Gambrinus is right on 'the money' - it's sensationalism and all it says to me 'Don't live in Loule'

[e-richard]

Crime is on the increase irrelevant of any unproven statistics by a local newspaper, areas like Carvoeiro are rich pickings for criminals who are finding the Euro just too expensive to survive on without resorting to petty crime. Examples of this are all across popular holiday destinations throughout Europe and will only get worse as making ends meet becomes harder and harder for those less fortunate than wealthy tourists.

That almost sounds as if you're defending the criminals ?

[CM]

No mention of Quantaive or Qualative method....however whenever I want to ask a series of questions that will give me the answer I desire I simply watch "Yes Minister"

[Matryx]

Crime is an issue all over Europe, and sadly, you cannot escape from it. You have to be careful in CVO just like anywhere else, but I never feel threatened walking home at night as I do in many places across the UK. Most of the serious crime relates to house burglary, so we all need to take the obvious precautions and get on with enjoying life in a lovely and relatively safe place

[kelly]

I find Carvoeiro a very safe place to be though obviously there are people there who im sure commit crimes. Our family have never been burgled (touch wood!) but we take precautions. Leave a light on when we go out in the evenings, out apartment has blocks of wood to put in sliding doors so they cant be opened, use both locks on the doors and dont leave windows open. Its no worse than being in any country.