DJ Dangerous
13-10-2011, 21:14
Another incident of holiday-makers being robbed here in Tenerife occurred a little over a week ago, on Sunday the 2nd of October.
Two of our guests, staying in Paloma Beach, decided to rent a car and go sight-seeing up Mount Teide. They went off with their passports, boarding cards, mobile phone, credit card and some cash in a bag, and drove up towards Teide, via Vilaflor.
On the way up, they believe that they were tailed by a silver Citroen C2, and pulled over to let him pass, but he stayed behind them instead. They arrived at one of the view-points and turned off, and so did the C2. They got out of their car to take photos of the view, and the driver of the C2 did the same, but was taking photos in the opposite direction. They said that on the sides of the C2, they could see marks where stickers had been removed previously.
They wandered off a little, feeling secure around another tourist taking photos, and with the "sangria-sunshine" mentality, left their bag of valuables on the back seat, with the car doors unlocked. As they snapped their photos, they heard the sound of spinning wheels, and saw the silver C2 speeding away. At that point, I think the penny dropped, and they ran back to their car, to find their bag gone. They tried to give chase, but their Fiat Panda was no match for the C2.
Devastated, they went straight to the Policia Nacional in Las Americas. They made their denuncia there, and borrowed a phone to have their own mobile and their credit card blocked.
On the Monday morning, we called the British consulate to find out what was required to get them home, and arranged their emergency travel documents. This unlucky couple didn't follow the rules, and their story echoes that of John and Paulina SO closely.
Advice from both the British Consulate in Santa Cruz and the Policia Nacional in Las Americas was that it is now getting harder to return to the UK and Ireland in the event of having your passports stolen.
The price of the emergency travel documents was €113 each.
The documents are only valid for 48 hours, so you still need to get new passports when you do get home.
To obtain these emergency travel documents, you will need the following:
The police report / denuncia, mentioning the names and dates of birth of ALL those who need the travel documents
One passport size photo - the exact size is not as important - they accept photos taken in booths, like the one in San Eugenio
Boarding cards showing time and date of return flights, origin and destination.
€113 for EACH document required
The British Consulate is open Monday to Friday, from 0830h to 1330h.
It takes at least an hour to print the passports and process any data.
Phoning your information through in advance will help the process.
The phone number for the British Consulate is:
902-109-356
The address is:
Plaza Weyler 8,
1st floor (over Barclays)
Santa Cruz De Tenerife.
There is a huge car-park right beside the plaza, there is also a taxi rank there, and it is serviced by the tram and buses.
When making a denuncia at the police station in Las Americas, you must speak Spanish.
For English speakers, you need to make your denuncia by phone (the number to phone is 902-102-112).
This report is then typed up by the operator, and sent to the police station in Las Americas.
There can be lengthy delays at the police station while waiting for your report, often several hours, so be prepared for this.
To all out there, PLEASE be vigilant, please keep your passports and boarding cards SEPARATE to money, credit cards and other valuables.
Two of our guests, staying in Paloma Beach, decided to rent a car and go sight-seeing up Mount Teide. They went off with their passports, boarding cards, mobile phone, credit card and some cash in a bag, and drove up towards Teide, via Vilaflor.
On the way up, they believe that they were tailed by a silver Citroen C2, and pulled over to let him pass, but he stayed behind them instead. They arrived at one of the view-points and turned off, and so did the C2. They got out of their car to take photos of the view, and the driver of the C2 did the same, but was taking photos in the opposite direction. They said that on the sides of the C2, they could see marks where stickers had been removed previously.
They wandered off a little, feeling secure around another tourist taking photos, and with the "sangria-sunshine" mentality, left their bag of valuables on the back seat, with the car doors unlocked. As they snapped their photos, they heard the sound of spinning wheels, and saw the silver C2 speeding away. At that point, I think the penny dropped, and they ran back to their car, to find their bag gone. They tried to give chase, but their Fiat Panda was no match for the C2.
Devastated, they went straight to the Policia Nacional in Las Americas. They made their denuncia there, and borrowed a phone to have their own mobile and their credit card blocked.
On the Monday morning, we called the British consulate to find out what was required to get them home, and arranged their emergency travel documents. This unlucky couple didn't follow the rules, and their story echoes that of John and Paulina SO closely.
Advice from both the British Consulate in Santa Cruz and the Policia Nacional in Las Americas was that it is now getting harder to return to the UK and Ireland in the event of having your passports stolen.
The price of the emergency travel documents was €113 each.
The documents are only valid for 48 hours, so you still need to get new passports when you do get home.
To obtain these emergency travel documents, you will need the following:
The police report / denuncia, mentioning the names and dates of birth of ALL those who need the travel documents
One passport size photo - the exact size is not as important - they accept photos taken in booths, like the one in San Eugenio
Boarding cards showing time and date of return flights, origin and destination.
€113 for EACH document required
The British Consulate is open Monday to Friday, from 0830h to 1330h.
It takes at least an hour to print the passports and process any data.
Phoning your information through in advance will help the process.
The phone number for the British Consulate is:
902-109-356
The address is:
Plaza Weyler 8,
1st floor (over Barclays)
Santa Cruz De Tenerife.
There is a huge car-park right beside the plaza, there is also a taxi rank there, and it is serviced by the tram and buses.
When making a denuncia at the police station in Las Americas, you must speak Spanish.
For English speakers, you need to make your denuncia by phone (the number to phone is 902-102-112).
This report is then typed up by the operator, and sent to the police station in Las Americas.
There can be lengthy delays at the police station while waiting for your report, often several hours, so be prepared for this.
To all out there, PLEASE be vigilant, please keep your passports and boarding cards SEPARATE to money, credit cards and other valuables.