For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
We stayed at alburgue in Zuberi last night and had a lovely stay and pilgrims meal there.
With our guard down we left some clothes and personal items unattended. On our return from breakfast we discovered someone had stolen some clothing and toiletries.
The spirit of the Camino and people on this journey has been truely delightful and without wishing to cause alarm we have learned that not everyone has the same good intention.
To the two girls who shared our room who hurriedly departed when the theft was noticed ....people in that same room know who you are and they are close behind you. Also to them in the unlikely event that they read this post, we hope the Camino teaches the value of the virtue of honesty and trust.
What we lost can easily be replaced. The lesson we learned is that one cannot be complacent.
The message to everyone is to enjoy your journey but be careful with your belongings
Buen Camino
Walton
What we lost can easily be replaced.
Maybe whoever took your stuff needed it more than you did. Jill
Thank you Greyland - your words reflect my reason for posting.I believe the OP was well worded and well intended. The OP did not identify the persons they suspect of the theft by name or nationality.
The circumstances described would generate some thought that the incident was likely reported correctly.
The Camino is no longer (if it ever was) a crime free journey.
Sadly..it is what it is. Be warned and alert.
Most important....the intent of the post was to warn new Pilgrims to not be lulled into a false sense of security because everyone seem "so nice".
Zubiri is the 2nd or 3rd night after SJPdP for most people.
Excitement and goodwill are still the prominent emotion.
Thank you Robert. Yes, If I see these two again, I will just smile and lift my long trousers to show them my socks. The guilt is theirs to bear and for me, l have long let go of revengeful thoughts and my spirit is light and looking forward to the remainder of this journey.I am just starting my journey. I am so far far away and have so little i do not know if i will ever make the journey. i am saddened by the posting and some of the human responses. This is my first blog exploring this site. this is my first publication in this site. one is reminded that only sinners make the camino. it is my hope and prayer that the ones making the journey better themselves and make life better for those around them. the evil one must be ever present in the objective to take away one's true focus of the Camino. "buen camino" is given with the good intention that your trip is good but with the knowledge that bad things could happen along the way (just like every day living). It is how we move forward from those experiences, albeit even from a journey you would hope nothing bad would occur, and remain focused on our goal that make life worth living. It may be maddening for the moment but it is not worth harboring (it has happened to me). I appreciate your warning and reminder. Keep the faith, enjoy the journey (this was only a small part of it) especially in light of the fact that there are some of us that would love to be on that path (yet for some reason can not be there), help someone in front of you, and if you catch up to those girls just smile and forgive (any other action simply is not worth effecting your grand journey to feel the presence of a saint (when empirically you can only find his bones) and find the connection towards God's great Glory). I have no idea why you are doing the Camino but you may or may not figure it out by the time you are done. God's speed. -Robert H.
Maybe whoever took your stuff needed it more than you did. Jill
Welcome to the forum @Robert H. You'll find a entire range of input here - just as you would if you were physically amongst a large crowd of people. There're also many different nationalities & languages involved; people from all walks of life; and last but not least, people covering a wide spectrum of ages. It makes for some interesting conversations that can sometimes get heatedI am just starting my journey. I am so far far away and have so little i do not know if i will ever make the journey. i am saddened by the posting and some of the human responses. This is my first blog exploring this site. this is my first publication in this site....
Probably each time we "donated" to pilgrims that had not brought enough or took pride in "packing extra light" and found out they were a bit too light.
SY - the items were taken from my bed - there was no mistake. It was full daylight.
Sabine - maybe my post was a little harsh - apologies.
Other people noticed suspicious behaviour - not us. Alerted, we then discovered our loss while they left with much hurry.
Our only reason for posting was to warn others to please be careful.
Yes - they may have needed our clothes but they each had an iPhone which they used a lot. Needy? maybe not.
The Albergue has their names and identity details which they did not disclose to us. In any case, did not want to involve police in such a petty theft and we told others in the dorm room during our discussions about our loss and while they were checking themselves to see if anything else was taken from them, to say and do nothing should they see these two again.
We just wanted to warn others to be careful.
I thought my carefully worded post was considerate and compassionate. Apologies to whomever it may have upset.
If it is causing angst, moderators please delete.
Thank you.
(edited for clearer English)
Or maybe not....Maybe whoever took your stuff needed it more than you did. Jill
Sorry to read that you got robbed. The important thing is not to let it ruin your trip - especially if everything can be replaced easily for a couple of hundred. My wife had a bag stolen in Barcelona with several hundred dollars worth of stuff. It was a lesson well learned. At the time I was very angry, partly because we had made it so easy for the pukes. I'm glad you brought this incident up, since backpack security was in the back of my mind. I did a search for "theft proof backpack" and found this on the REI site: https://www.rei.com/product/709207/...w8Zx2YmP-W3Ps1Y_ne_6E7-yH564qfBjXIaAhHR8P8HAQ Thieves are lazy and opportunistic and a metal mesh barrier may be all it takes to keep them out.We stayed at alburgue in Zuberi last night and had a lovely stay and pilgrims meal there.
With our guard down we left some clothes and personal items unattended. On our return from breakfast we discovered someone had stolen some clothing and toiletries.
The spirit of the Camino and people on this journey has been truely delightful and without wishing to cause alarm we have learned that not everyone has the same good intention.
To the two girls who shared our room who hurriedly departed when the theft was noticed ....people in that same room know who you are and they are close behind you. Also to them in the unlikely event that they read this post, we hope the Camino teaches the value of the virtue of honesty and trust.
What we lost can easily be replaced. The lesson we learned is that one cannot be complacent.
The message to everyone is to enjoy your journey but be careful with your belongings
Buen Camino
Walton
... I did a search for "theft proof backpack" and found this on the REI site: https://www.rei.com/product/709207/...w8Zx2YmP-W3Ps1Y_ne_6E7-yH564qfBjXIaAhHR8P8HAQ Thieves are lazy and opportunistic and a metal mesh barrier may be all it takes to keep them out.
As upsetting as this is for you - most 'thefts' on the Camino are simply a case of 'mistaken identity' Most clothes that are 'stolen' in dim light are not stolen but sincerely confused for being ones own. As for
"people in that same room know who you are and they are close behind you"
I am just shaking my head.
Buen Camino, SY
Last May, a few days west of Burgos, I had washed, dried, and folded my tee shirt, underwear, and socks and laid them neatly on my bed. Off I headed to dinner. When I returned , all that remain on my bunk was my tee shirt. Mistaken identity or poor light? Naw, I don't think so.
Later, at Viatoris in Shagun my hiking partner washed her very expensive hiking pants, leggings, and tee shirt and hung them out to dry in the small court yard. Just before sundown she went back to get them and, you guessed it, all three items were gone, and nothing else was on the clothes rack. Mistaken identity, poor light...naw. Probably each time we "donated" to pilgrims that had not brought enough or took pride in "packing extra light" and found out they were a bit too light.
Did we let that ruin or in any way spoil our Camino? Only for a day. We both got replacements and moved on down the Way. I continued to put my dried laundry on my bed and she continued to hang her items on the clothes lines. And we will do so again this year starting in a couple of weeks.
Dear SYates, I alwais find your answer on the difensing of what ? In one occasion at SJPD at the municipal a pilgrim had his rain jacket taken by "mistake" the only difference was that the little box he had in the pocket was remouved stating that the person knew it wasn't his. The pilgrim had to walk to Roncesv.. under the rain. At Roncesv.. we find the couple that took it and confronted them, they where very sorrow.I think Walton was right to worn this ......., as we try alwaise to look after each other. Buen Camino pellegrino.
I totally agree Malabar - lets call this what it is - plain and simply THIEFT. As was posted earlier - why should the person who was "stolen from" be expected the bear this loss. Some of the "light-weight" clothing is BLOODY/VERY expensive (I know I have purchased it and even when "on sale" it was often more expensive than high quality jeans). On my last Camino - in the larger albergue - I took advantage of the sun whilst waiting for my clothes to dry. Looks like I will have to continue this practice.These sad facts are really isolated. Im still with 300km left and didnt have a problem. However i dont buy into the mistaken identity type of deal. Let's be serious, when it happens it is 85% intentional.
We stayed at alburgue in Zuberi last night and had a lovely stay and pilgrims meal there.
With our guard down we left some clothes and personal items unattended. On our return from breakfast we discovered someone had stolen some clothing and toiletries.
The spirit of the Camino and people on this journey has been truely delightful and without wishing to cause alarm we have learned that not everyone has the same good intention.
To the two girls who shared our room who hurriedly departed when the theft was noticed ....people in that same room know who you are and they are close behind you. Also to them in the unlikely event that they read this post, we hope the Camino teaches the value of the virtue of honesty and trust.
What we lost can easily be replaced. The lesson we learned is that one cannot be complacent.
The message to everyone is to enjoy your journey but be careful with your belongings
Buen Camino
Walton
I never worried about petty theft, but I did take precautions. But you're right, the Camino has little in common with a wilderness hike, and if that is your expectation you will probably be disappointed.I am having second thoughts about doing the Camino. This is not the way I am used to doing trips. Used to wilderness hikes where people don't steal anything. Not a very joyous thought to be worrying about your possessions every minute of the day and night.
@JerriI am having second thoughts about doing the Camino. This is not the way I am used to doing trips. Used to wilderness hikes where people don't steal anything. Not a very joyous thought to be worrying about your possessions every minute of the day and night.
@Walton what a cracker! What a beautiful philosophy. And I loved your reveal. You've got Tinker in your blood I'll avow.You spite them by living your life well.
There are no utopias where crime and cruelty does not exist. It even occurs on wilderness hikes. There have been murders on the AT in the US and no doubt every year with all the hikers it has these days, there are many thefts, assaults etc.I am having second thoughts about doing the Camino. This is not the way I am used to doing trips. Used to wilderness hikes where people don't steal anything. Not a very joyous thought to be worrying about your possessions every minute of the day and night.
OK - a reveal for you. We ran into these two girls in a cafe, a day later. I saw them first across the cafe floor and I just looked at them, and then some more. They realised I was looking at them and couldn't / wouldn't meet my eyes. They fidgeted, becoming clearly uncomfortable and whispered urgently to each other and then left quite quickly. They now had the worry that I would catch up with them along the way because they knew that I knew what they did. Can you imagine - ooh la la!! - kama.
Hello Walton, you may meet those two again somewhere down the road, and that will be interesting for all involved.
Buen Camino!
Thanks for the heads up. Very sad.We stayed at alburgue in Zuberi last night and had a lovely stay and pilgrims meal there.
With our guard down we left some clothes and personal items unattended. On our return from breakfast we discovered someone had stolen some clothing and toiletries.
The spirit of the Camino and people on this journey has been truely delightful and without wishing to cause alarm we have learned that not everyone has the same good intention.
To the two girls who shared our room who hurriedly departed when the theft was noticed ....people in that same room know who you are and they are close behind you. Also to them in the unlikely event that they read this post, we hope the Camino teaches the value of the virtue of honesty and trust.
What we lost can easily be replaced. The lesson we learned is that one cannot be complacent.
The message to everyone is to enjoy your journey but be careful with your belongings
Buen Camino
Walton
Nah, that would be a bad choice, and he’d be acting just like the two thieves who stole from him. There are better responses to bad behavior.Find out where they're staying and pinch all their stuff. An eye for an eye, a pullover for a pullover.
As others have pointed out, in this case you're seeing a three year old theft report.Seems like I am seeing theft reports almost every day on the Camino Facebook groups ):
I've been seeing those reports too. Last night it was in Los Arcos.Yeah, I just chose this thread because it had a generic title rather than referring to a specific Albergue theft. I've seen at least 3-4 different posts about entire albergues worth of pilgrims being robbed over the last week or so in the Facebook groups
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?