Just a warning to other residents here in Corfu. We just went to our car and found all the petrol had been siphoned off. Two weeks ago there was a spate of burglaries not far from us in the middle of the night. Just be on your guard. Unfortunately Corfu is not what it used to be.
Message posted by janmanessi on 07 February 2010 at 12:08pm - IP Logged
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Unfortunately your area is not alone in the increase in crime.Kato Korakiana had some break ins last year and now already this year too.We are now locking doors if we dont own a dog as a deterant!
Message posted by Jimmy66 on 07 February 2010 at 3:04pm - IP Logged
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What a shocker, I didn't think anything of this sort went on in Corfu, I know car crime and burglaries happen on the mainland though, can't really blame tourists at this time of year I suppose. Hope things get better and the culprits are dealt with.
Message posted by Bill on 07 February 2010 at 5:14pm - IP Logged
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km, I'm really sorry you've been the victim of a crime. I've been there myself (in the UK) and know how unpleasant the feeling is.
However, directed at people who believe Corfu is completely crime free... This is not the case, nor has it ever been. There has always been a element of criminality and probably always will be. Thankfully what little this is tends not to be violent - and such acts are occasional rather than frequent. Amongst the most unpleasant crimes are, periodically, these spates of burglaries. Of course there will always be the exception to the rule, but when they have happened in the village where I live (and they have happened several times in the last few years) they tend to have been perpetrated by the same individual or small group.
My point being that Corfu isn't suddenly becoming a den of enquity, where it is unsafe to leave a window open or allow you children to nip to the shop without being abducted. In comparison to most of the world it is still a very, very safe area in which to live or visit. Of course we should all be sensible and take basic precautions to minimalise the risk to our property or person, but the island is hardly hotbed of criminal activity quite yet, so I don't think its necessary to rush out and cancel your holiday bookings or start looking for pepper spray just yet.
There was a lengthy thread on a very similar subject just a few months ago here
And if you would like definitive information about crime levels in Greece generally have a look at this which is the most recent report by the Overseas Security Advisory Council.
Message posted by Lavinia on 07 February 2010 at 6:44pm - IP Logged
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I woke up three mornings ago in my house in Corfu to find my front door wide open..... I armed myself with a walking stick and bravely peered into every nook and cranny of the house (why is the basement always the scariest?). I did this in fear and trepidation whilst holding my mobile on which I was going to ring my trusted neighbours if I came across anything horrible, like an axe murderer of a gang of marauding robbers in masks and striped t-shirts. Fortunately, it was obvious that the storm of the night before and the strong winds had blown the door open. I have learnt a valuable lesson, firstly to lock my door each night as the lock is a bit dodgy and secondly to always have my mobile phone charged. I think everyone's best protection is good neighbours and I am certainly blessed with mine. So never mind if the goats get into the garden and eat my plants, it is really comforting to know that their kindly owners are nearby should I need them. I still never lock my car though and have only just started to lock the house.
Crime here is still rare but I guess that the recession has hit many people and desperate times create desperate measures. I have always been told that refugees tend to only steal food and clothes and that violent crimes are usually "crimes of passion" rather than assault on random victims. I still feel much safer in Corfu than I did when I lived in the "shires" of the UK and I think my sense of security comes with the sense of community which certainly exists in my tiny bit of Corfu.
Message posted by janmanessi on 07 February 2010 at 8:36pm - IP Logged
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I think the thing that keeps crime levels down is exactly that Lavinia, the sense of community- even those people who might be tempted to do wrong are much less likely to do anything if they know that their neighbours will find out and it will destroy their family's status in the community.
Unfortunately when people from outside (meaning from abroad or even another part of the country) move in on an area they do not have those built in checks on their behaviour.
Luckily violent crime is rare, but as with anywhere else, there are drugs around (although thankfully not nearly at the level in most UK towns) and some poverty, and these are only two of the things that fuel crime.
Just a theory regarding the petrol theft- Kefalomanduko is just off 'disco strip' and might it not have been a young kid who, after a night on the tiles, realised he had no petrol to get home...not excusing the behaviour but just pointing out that it does not amount to a crime wave!
Incidentally to end on a lighter note. Some years ago I was in UK for Greek Easter and my neighbour asked me to go to the Greek Orthodox church for the 'Anastase' with her. We live in North Oxford, a very quiet and peaceful part of the city.
Off we went to church and while we were there some kids went up our road (where most cars are parked on forecourts or in front of the houses) and let down the road side tyres on every single car. We came home and went to bed not knowing but you can imagine the scene in the road next morning! We felt that God must have protected us!!
Message posted by tackou on 07 February 2010 at 10:26pm - IP Logged
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Its sad that crime is coming more to Corfu now than before. We have had a few times in the village where petrol has been taken from bikes but just this week the culprits were found and it was young teenage boys from the village and their parents were made to compensite the victims but I think worse for the boys everyone now knows who they are and watch them like hawks. Its sad when this happens hope you are OK
Message posted by lindybell on 08 February 2010 at 12:06am - IP Logged
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Hello Lavina, I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience, I live on my own and I know sometimes when you hear things in the middle of the night is very scary, your heart seems to beat so hard it feels like it's popping out of your chest doesn't it?, However, I do hope you are over it now and feel safe again?
Kind Regards
Linda
Message posted by Lavinia on 08 February 2010 at 1:13am - IP Logged
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Thank you Linda, much appreciated. My heart was in my mouth but for only a few minutes until I realised where I was! It was entirely my own stupid fault for not locking the door. I know exactly what you mean about "night terrors" but here the only thing that really freaks me out are the nightjars - I absolutely hate their eerie call. I feel very safe and have a very loud Italian aerosol hooter next to me at all times which will put the fear of God into anyone and immediately alert my dear neighbours (and scare off the dreaded "hunters" who get too close!). I feel so much safer here than I did in the UK where I was unfortunate enough to have vile neighbours.
Message posted by Anna K on 08 February 2010 at 7:37am - IP Logged
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I was naive on my arrival here two years ago and have been ripped off by a dodgy car dealer, a Greek insurance man who absconded with all the money he had collected.
But the worst rip off I suffered was by one of our own.
Yes an English computor guy who sold me a power surge protector which lasted 2 weeks and then died.
This guy had by then disappeared. No reply to any emails.
Unable to contact by phone.
It wasn't cheap either, I trusted him too.
Anyway I believe in karma.
By the way does anyone know where I could take it to be looked at? I tried a new fuse.
Thanks
Message posted by janmanessi on 08 February 2010 at 12:42pm - IP Logged
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tackou- one positive is that it will probably deter these boys from progressing to anything more serious, and may make them warn their friends also!
I'd rather come down hard on minor offenders to stop them progressing to 'bigger things' than wait until they have done something really serious, by which time it is far harder for them to change their ways
Message posted by SusieM on 08 February 2010 at 2:05pm - IP Logged
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Dear KM
One of my daughters lives in Kefolomanduko - do you by any chance have a white maltese dog??
I will warn my daughter as she parks her car outside so easily accessible.
When I first went to Corfu in early 70's there was NO crime. My door key stayed permenantly in the house and the crimes started late 80's when borders were open.
S
Message posted by janmanessi on 08 February 2010 at 3:04pm - IP Logged
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Hate to say it Susie but don't think we can blame the borders being more open - it is something laughingly called PROGRESS...permeates all societies gradually as people get more materialistic, more jealous of others, etc.
Message posted by SusieM on 08 February 2010 at 3:14pm - IP Logged
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Yes agree Jan but I can definitely pinpoint the year when we started having to lock the front door as apposed to vertually leaving it open!!
Agree but now in desperate times desperate measures will be taken and I think there will be a lot of petty thieving etc etc taking place.
Oh heres gloom and doom on a Monday morning.
England looks lovely, COLD, raining and very grey and snow on the way.
Hope all is well on the Corfu front? I tapped into the Kerkyra Underground weather forecast and there seemed to be a lot of grey matter on the horizon.
Hope the renovations are going well.
Sx
Message posted by janmanessi on 08 February 2010 at 3:23pm - IP Logged
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Know what you mean, weather lovely now but had heavy shower, and forecast grey- renovations going well but will enjoy being able to sleep without a hard hat on!!!!!
Message posted by Lavinia on 08 February 2010 at 3:29pm - IP Logged
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Hi Susie, I have just driven up the Ropa Valley, through Troupeta and down to Acharavi to collect some artichoke tubers. It is such a beautiful day that I drove back down the east coast. There were a few people tending their olive nets in the groves and a few others shopping in Kassiopi but very little traffic and a lot of the early spring flowers are coming out - magic! Hope to see you at Easter (may be we'll manage it this time?) xx
Message posted by SpearTravels on 08 February 2010 at 4:41pm - IP Logged
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A friend of mine has had the petrol tanks stolen from his boats several times since last October, so if storing your boat on a trailer over the winter it is always best to take it out.
Going back to what Jan & Co are saying about the past, we had the front door key on the outside of our front door for 4 years without ever removing it when we lived in Potamos many years ago. When we moved it was so rusty I couldn't get it out! How times have changed!
Message posted by janmanessi on 08 February 2010 at 5:01pm - IP Logged
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SusieM - Yes we do have a Maltese dog - I think I may have spoken to your daughter does she also have a Maltese dog called Tinkerbell and lives near the bakery? If so I live opposite her.
Message posted by SusieM on 08 February 2010 at 5:15pm - IP Logged
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Hi Vinny
Corfu looks stunning when driving in the winter (no traffic around helps) and the visibility is next to nothing. Yes definitely try and link up in the platia around Easter.
Peter we too lived in Potomos from 1980 - 1994; same key all that time; brilliant.
Hope all is well on your front and you are swamped with bookings????
Housing market here picking so maybe thats a good sign for one and all.
Message posted by SpearTravels on 08 February 2010 at 5:21pm - IP Logged
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HI KM
Yes the dog is Tinkerbell and she is divine - she has just an amazing character and for a little dog absolutely no fear of huge dogs. Nicola told me that there was an English couple closeby with the same breed. How long have you been there? have you settled in? I am back at the end of next month so maybe when I take T out we might bump into eachother - I am usually on the early morning shift or the late night one!!
Peter - glad work is spanning out although not much advanced bookings but at least you are busy there.
Jan say hi to Benitses Vinny; havent seen her for ages, does she still ride alot?? Glad refurb going well.
Susie
Message posted by km on 08 February 2010 at 9:10pm - IP Logged
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Hi SusieM, hubby is Corfiot and we came to live in Kefalomanduko in 1983 (before that from 1976 we were back and forth between Roda and UK. In 1994 we returned to UK where we stayed until 2007 when we came back to Kefalomanduko. Still settling in!!!
I'll look out for you at the end of March, I met your other daughter a few weeks back, if I remember correctly she lives in Kondokoli?
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