LIVE from the Camino Be Alert to Thieves in Santo Domingo

[jastrace]

It was observed today that suspected thieves appear to be active in Santo Domingo.

They were observed working in groups of 3-4 men, individuals, extended family groups and parent and child groups. Individuals were observed systematicaly 'working' groups, couples and individual pilgrims in public spaces, looking for opportunistic targets. These activities were observed in the 'old town' where many pilgrims are concentrated. They were especially conspicuous by their presence on the streets this afternoon during a wet siesta period.

Despite their ability to speak Spanish, those involved did not appear to be part of the local Spanish population, based on their appearance and behaviour.

Be aware in public places such as: public laundries, outside bars and cafes, internet cafes and entrances to churches and shops where they were observed today.

Local police appear to be alert due to some reasonably active patroling activity.

Don't let this upset your Camino, just be alert and take precautions.

Buen Camino,

Jason

 

[Anniesantiago]

What was stolen?

 

[Sojourner47]

Where did this information come from?
Thieves "observed", by whom?

 

[jastrace]

Me and others I spoke to during the course of the afternoon. Not hard to identify if you are alert and use your eyes. It was so obvious (to me) that it prompted the above post to be alert.

 

[Anniesantiago]

But what was stolen, where, and from whom?

 

[Thornley]

Nothing has to be stolen to be aware of thieves.
They spot you a mile off and i hope you spot them.

Within churches in Australia try leaving your hand bag on the seat when you go to communion.
If your family are not there .......no hand bag.

Recently a lovely old lady followed people from a funeral at the local to the bowls club for the wake/coffee/sandwiches etc. A mere 200metres.

One of the staff told my sister to move my 92 year old mothers hand bag away from the bench where the oldies had gathered.
It seems the beautiful old lady has priors and is very good at what she does .
The next day her son's home was visited by members of the parish.
She no longer attends random funerals at the church.

How times have changed.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Ok.
So so far, nothing has been stolen and somebody is assuming people are thieves by the way they look? :|

Why make people paranoid. ?

 

[SYates]

Just curious, how does a thief look like? SY

 

[dougfitz]

Just like you or me. It doesn't seem to me that they wear a uniform. They might also be well practised at behaving just like other people too, as behaving differently will draw attention to their activities. I have a simple view that those who might be behaving suspiciously are least likely to be the real threat, and by avoiding them one might actually be doing what a gang of thieves might want us to do.

 

[KinkyOne]

Or quite the opposite

As Forrest Gump said (once): "Life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you gonna get." :lol:

 

[SYates]

... I have a simple view that those who might be behaving suspiciously are least likely to be the real threat, and by avoiding them one might actually be doing what a gang of thieves might want us to do.

Again I agree with you ;-) SY

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Dealing with theives is easy.
Do not bring anything with you that you can´t afford to lose.

Aside from that, as a hospitalera I can´t tell you the number of times a much lamented "stolen" item later turned up under someone´s pillow or deep in their pack, or still hanging out on the wash line where they left it. :roll:

 

[SYates]

Dealing with theives is easy.
... as a hospitalera I can´t tell you the number of times a much lamented "stolen" item later turned up under someone´s pillow or deep in their pack, or still hanging out on the wash line where they left it. :roll:

Or under a bed ... :lol: SY

 

[annelise]

I do get what the original poster is saying. Be alert about unusual patterns of behaviour around you – but do not allow yourself to get obsessed about it.

annelise

 

[clearskiescamino]

I'll keep an eye out tomorrow if I check in there. Will let you all know.

 

[Sojourner47]

Or under a bed ... :lol: SY

Voice of experience?

 

[SYates]

Or under a bed ... :lol: SY

Voice of experience?

Hospitalera experience ;-) You can't imagine what you can find in a pilgrim's dormitory when brooming under the
beds ;-) SY

 

[Tincatinker]

In a past job I used to get regular notifications of " suspected thieves " operating in specified locations. What was meant were Roma, Romanies, Gypsies, Tinkers - depends what you call us in your language. I remember that in Hungary I was told that the "Roma never stop working"; the speaker, a policeman, didn't mean thieving, he meant working. His observation referred to how busy they were - picking up discarded cans and bottles, looking for scap metal, discarded clothing anything useable or re-cycleable.

I used to be a suspected drug smuggler every time I crossed a border, a suspected anarchist every time I went on a protest march and a suspected bastard every time I performed an audit on behalf of Her Majesties Government.

A suspected thief is someone you don't know, in an environment with which you are unfamiliar when your paranoia is running stronger than usual. Have you ever noticed the shifty look in the eyes of the nuns as they take your donativo? What do they spend the money on? Some religious cult?

 

[SYates]

@Tincatinker
If there would be a like button here in the forum, I would click it a zillion tomes! Thanks for your post! SY