Did the burglaries at Ocean Club have some relevance to Madeleine?

[jassi]

correct, as there was no one about not really, just usual quiet traffic. Thats why i dont buy any of this stranger stuff.

The last place you would want to show yourself is in a small town still slightly off holiday time. I have been away in this time, and its usually really quiet, some restaruants are only just opening, and some not even bothered.

However, come the busy season PDL would be a thriving hub of people a perfect time to hide amongst all the tourists.

Which is another good reason for rejecting the idea that an international gang of child trafficker would be functioning in the resort in May.

[Carana]

Yes, actually i find it all a bit odd as we have seen the tapas lot toing and froing from the bar to the apartment but no one else, only jez wilkins...where were all the residents and tourists on the night of the 3rd.

Oh I know 6 of them were waiting for Smith man right by the bars in the town, but where was everyone else??? >@@(*&)

PERHAPS it was just TOOOO COLD to be out...

On a chilly evening, there probably would be fewer locals out and about at that time. If they were home watching TV with the windows closed, they wouldn't necessarily have heard people walking around and I wouldn't have thought they would have had any reason to open windows and peer out, unless there was some unusual noise.

[Carana]

correct, as there was no one about not really, just usual quiet traffic. Thats why i dont buy any of this stranger stuff.

The last place you would want to show yourself is in a small town still slightly off holiday time. I have been away in this time, and its usually really quiet, some restaruants are only just opening, and some not even bothered.

However, come the busy season PDL would be a thriving hub of people a perfect time to hide amongst all the tourists.

True, but wouldn't there also be more police around as well when the season picks up?

[Redblossom]

True, but wouldn't there also be more police around as well when the season picks up?

Do you know that there is police around at all, let alone increase in numbers at busy times, this is PDL not Magaluf or Miami

[Carana]

Do you know that there is police around at all, let alone increase in numbers at busy times, this is PDL not Magaluf or Miami

Not in PdL itself, but there does seem to be a policy of increasing police numbers generally in the Algarve as the seasonal population increases.


Posted by algarveresident on July 19, 2007
Security reinforcements reduced in region

POLICE NUMBERS will be lower in the Algarve this summer compared with last year because they are needed elsewhere.Speaking in Vilamoura earlier this month, Portuguese Minister of Internal Administration, Rui Pereira, said security reinforcements will be ”much reduced” in the region as forces are being used for other purposes, particularly in Lisbon as a result of the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union.Tourist supportThis season, which started on July 1 and runs until September 16, will see a force of 972 GNR officers available, reinforced by 24 militaries from the Operational Battalion, four dog handling teams and two mounted squadrons, increasing to three mounted squadrons in August.There will also be two tourist support patrol teams, which include one vehicle, two bicycles and four military personnel.Other police forces such as the Brigada Fiscal, fiscal police and Brigada de Trânsito, traffic police will be increasing their numbers for the summer. Portimão will have a Corpo de Intervenção, a rapid response unit with 12 personnel during August and September and three dog handling teams.Rui Pereira also unveiled new security measures at Faro airport. It will benefit from increased security, with two new systems, Controlo Electrónico de Fronteiras, electronic border control, and automatic identification of passengers holding travelling documents (RAPID).These new measures will allow quick and secure identification of passengers with electronic travelling documents.Do you have a view on this story? Email: editor@portugalresident.com
- See more at: http://portugalresident.com/security-reinforcements-reduced-in-region#sthash.c9N255R1.dpuf

I'm aware that this relates to Albufeira, but it's an illustration of general policy:

The police declined to comment but Ana Pifaro, Albufeira’s Councillor for Security, said the case was under investigation and that security was fundamental for the authorities. She added that the Republican National Guard (GNR) had been brought into the resort, as was the norm during the high season. “There is no spirit of insecurity in the city and this can be attested by the tourists who are on vacation right now,” she said. The Portuguese Embassy in London also issued a statement. It said: “The Portuguese government, tourism and internal affairs (equivalent to the UK’s Home Office) have undertaken adequate steps and measures to provide the best possible environment for tourists to holiday in Portugal. These measures take into consideration such factors as the summer season in the Algarve, when the region receives a significant increase in the number of visitors. With reference to the incident that occurred last weekend in the Algarve [the death of Haggath], the authorities have launched a full investigation and are working relentlessly to solve the situation.”
http://www.heraldscotland.com/life-style/real-lives/the-unexplained-death-of-a-scots-soldier-in-the-algarve-1.1107325

A more recent article, moaning that the summer increase wouldn't be enough:
http://livinginthesun.info/portugal/positive-reaction-to-algarve-police-reinforcements-but-more-still-needed/

[Redblossom]

"Not in PDL itself"

Well its PDL we are interested in

OK thanks...there you have it, no evidence of any police presence as a norm let alone an increase....so yes, the argument stands that in a busier time would  be criminals would go undetected even more so

[VIXTE]

Obviously useful when the ownership of the phones can be established. Perhaps less so if the phones are anonymous.

But they can access the contacts of unregistered phones, and some of them might be registered.

[jassi]

But they can access the contacts of unregistered phones, and some of them might be registered.

Yes, but so many years later, the recipient may not know who made that call. They may no longer have their original phone or that SIM.

I'm sure its all very clever technological but it may prove to be worthless.

[Carana]

"Not in PDL itself"

Well its PDL we are interested in

OK thanks...there you have it, no evidence of any police presence as a norm let alone an increase....so yes, the argument stands that in a busier time would  be criminals would go undetected even more so

Not necessarily. I'd agree that the summer months would make it easier to blend in, but then more people in the streets in balmy evenings, plus an increased police presence in the overall area could add to the overall risk of being seen / identified / stopped.

[VIXTE]

Yes, but so many years later, the recipient may not know who made that call. They may no longer have their original phone or that SIM.

I'm sure its all very clever technological but it may prove to be worthless.

They might not know but they also might know..

[jassi]

They might not know but they also might know..

Maybe. Would you remember nearly 7 years later?

[Redblossom]

Not necessarily. I'd agree that the summer months would make it easier to blend in, but then more people in the streets in balmy evenings, plus an increased police presence in the overall area could add to the overall risk of being seen / identified / stopped.

Disagree totally

All supposition

Fewer  people around make anyone seen stand out like a sore thumb...many people around...no one is vigilant in the same way...and no no police presence for anyone  to be stopped

[Redblossom]

lol
nancy the no brain...they were having drinks on their patio

[AnneGuedes]

"Not in PDL itself"

Well its PDL we are interested in

OK thanks...there you have it, no evidence of any police presence as a norm let alone an increase....so yes, the argument stands that in a busier time would  be criminals would go undetected even more so

A family friendly place with uniforms around, that doesn't match.
I wonder who is at the origin of the burglar myth. Never seen a credible page about burgling higher than average.
In those flats for tourists, there's not much to steal, unless you come equipped with a large van to take everything, pretending you're moving.

[jassi]

A family friendly place with uniforms around, that doesn't match.
I wonder who is at the origin of the burglar myth. Never seen a credible page about burgling higher than average.
In those flats for tourists, there's not much to steal, unless you come equipped with a large van to take everything, pretending you're moving.

That'll be next. After the team of cleaners and burglar Bill & his gang it'll be down to moonlighting removal men.