With the huge influx of tourists during Semana Santa, there is usually an accompanying increase in crime. So far this year has been no exception.

In the town centre of Almuñécar, the jewellery shop Tienda Danesa has been broken into and there was an attempted bag snatch from the terrace outside Lute Y Jesus on the seafront.

Thieves broke into Tienda Danesa, around 04.00h on Palm Sunday morning. The thieves were interrupted in their ‘task’ by neighbours, who had raised the alarm The damage to their new concertina shutters and the the main door was just as ‘painful’ as the theft of goods inside.

In the other incident two women had their bags taken from the tall tables on the pavement area of Lute y Jesus. The perpetrator then ran of towards the beach, being pursued by Steve Law, the owner of the nearby Café Ayer. On the beach, the thief stopped and pulled knife, which he brandished towards Steve. Eventually, after Steve threw a stone at the man, he dropped the bags and ran off.

So, if you are on holiday on the Costa Tropical or even a resident, keep you goods close to hand and be aware of your surroundings. In these difficult economic times, people are becoming even more desperate… that’s not excusing their actions, just a friendly warning.

(News: Almunecar, Costa tropical, Granada, Andalucia)