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Thank you so much for reporting this on the forum and to the police, Chieko. I hope this can go in the Crime section or the Personal Safety section. I just heard of another attempted robbery on - I think it was the Via de la Plata - a couple of weeks ago. I'm so sorry this happened to you and hope that you are able to continue your Camino with whatever resources are available or can at least get home safely.About 10km before Porto we were robbed on the camino by 2 men on the roman road stretch, calzada romana, as named in John Brierley's guide book. A photo of the exact place is shown in his guide book. The place is in the forest called Serra de Canelas on mapswithme. If you see 2 men sitting on the embankment at the start of this road, GO BACK, don't attempt to pass unless in a group. Be vigilante in this area. The police are aware of the situation.
I'm so sorry to hear about your experience - it must have been very distressing. Thanks for taking the time to share this information. Wishing you well with the rest of your journey.About 10km before Porto we were robbed on the camino by 2 men on the roman road stretch, calzada romana, as named in John Brierley's guide book. A photo of the exact place is shown in his guide book. The place is in the forest called Serra de Canelas on mapswithme. If you see 2 men sitting on the embankment at the start of this road, GO BACK, don't attempt to pass unless in a group. Be vigilante in this area. The police are aware of the situation.
How did they rob you? You say "we", how many people were with you and did they use a weapon or just ask for money? I'm a LEO so I'm just curious about their method.
"LEO" = Law Enforcement Officer
(For those who were wondering)
.
Also of note
Spain is not exactly a good country to practice self defense.
If someone pulls a knife on ya & you take his eye out with your walking stick, you likely will have a serious problem on your hands.
My friend is a lawyer in La Coruna. We have discussed this at length several times. This is the way he explained it to me.Can you back that up with some proof/source of information please? As far as I know, and I live in Spain (and have done so previously for several years), acting in self defense (with reasonable means) is perfectly ok before the Spanish law. Reasonable means meaning you match, or only slightly exceed, the thread that is shown towards you. Examples:
Somebody shouts a verbal insult at you and you knife them in the heart - NOT reasonable means, even if you felt threatened.
Somebody puts an knife at your throat and threatens to kill you and you defend yourself with your walking stick and happen to take his/her eye out with it - Reasonable means as as your life was in danger.
BC SY
HA ha Sorry about that.Reading @alaskadiver post I thought to myself why is zodiac sign written in capitals
Thanks for explanation @grayland !
I have to agree with you on anyone speculating on Spanish law.Let's try to keep the conversation on the reported incident in the original post.
Speculation/opinion on Spanish law would best be taken to a separate thread.
Thanks.
Dude, this incident has nothing to do with Spain. It happened in Portugal. Leave it alone and let's get back on track, please.I have to agree with you on anyone speculating on Spanish law.
As for opinions? Everyone has one lol
But I do think it's important that foreigners should understand Spanish laws if they plan on visiting Spain.
What many of us believe ( right or wrong ) what is self defense in our own country will be considered assault in Spain ( and many other countries for that matter )
I'm new here on the forum and I don't mean to ruffle any feathers
( upset anyone ) but the main purpose of this forum should be two fold.
First help and second educate. I'm not speaking as an ill informed American. My two best friends in the world are Spanish and my granddaughters other grandfather lived in Spain for two years.
( via Cuba )
I apologize. I thought Portugals self defense laws are almost identical to Spains.Dude, this incident has nothing to do with Spain. It happened in Portugal. Leave it alone and let's get back on track, please.
About 10km before Porto we were robbed on the camino by 2 men on the roman road stretch, calzada romana, as named in John Brierley's guide book. A photo of the exact place is shown in his guide book. The place is in the forest called Serra de Canelas on mapswithme. If you see 2 men sitting on the embankment at the start of this road, GO BACK, don't attempt to pass unless in a group. Be vigilante in this area. The police are aware of the situation.
I don't think we're going to get any details. The OP who started this thread has post 3 times in 9 yearsI'm still curious about what exactly happened too. I'm not a LEO (Scorpio actually - LOL - and an engineer, so I like details too).
... we were robbed on the camino by 2 men ... The police are aware of the situation.
i was robbed in porto last year, i tried to post the whole thing i dont know if it got in the system, caught the guy in our room at 6 AM and beat his face, he got me back some and i got the money and passport back. he got away. 4th floor of the norte' hotel.Also of note
Spain is not exactly a good country to practice self defense.
If someone pulls a knife on ya & you take his eye out with your walking stick, you likely will have a serious problem on your hands.
And you do know...i am presuming here... of the difference of civil law and common law, right?Part of the LEO interest in this thread is terminology. All professions have their own set of words that mean a lot to them but may end up being used in a vague way by others.
Let's say you feel a pickpocket with his hand in your, you guessed it, pocket. You turn and confront him. He is guilty (this is using California law, your state or country may vary) of Grand Theft, a felony. The exact term is theft from Person, but GT may also be for taking a firearm, taking above a certain amount of agricultural products (gotta watch how many chickens of avocados you pilfer).
After being confronted, said person takes a swing at you and misses. This is an assault. If he connects it is a battery. Both of these are misdemeanors, all the following are felonies. If he sees a convenient lead pipe left by a pilgrim (artistic license here) and swings but misses it is an Attempt Assault with a Deadly Weapon (A/ADW) If he connects it is an ADW. If he continues to strike you about the head it can be an Attempt Murder, if you survive. If you don't it is a murder. Robbery is the taking by force or fear. If no weapon is involved it is termed Strongarm robbery, if a weapon is used, be it a lead pipe, firearm, knife or any other device you are afraid of it it just a robbery. In the last instance, in L.A. we had a robbery suspect who carried a hypo filled with what he said was blood contaminated by AIDS.
So, you see, the devil is in the details. I do not think the OP is going to respond and do not know if the incident really took place. And I apologize for rambling on, but my professional curiosity just took control and I ended up writing an intro to criminal law. Will the madness never end!!!!!!!!!!!
i was robbed in porto last year, i tried to post the whole thing i dont know if it got in the system, caught the guy in our room at 6 AM and beat his face, he got me back some and i got the money and passport back. he got away. 4th floor of the norte' hotel.
the manager said lots of foreigners come with no aim to work. he was about 20 and dropped his new pack of camel cigs that is still have shawn my wife was mortified. i got caught in the breeze and a patron lady screamed,heh.
Hello again,
Firstly I say this, no one should change their plans for walking the Portuguese Camino. Myself (female) and my male friend have been in Portugal 8 weeks and have walked the Via Algarviana, Rota Vicentina, spent 2weeks hiking in Madeira, and now walking to Santiago from Azambuja about 60km north of Lisbon. In our opinion the Portuguse people are friendly and the most sincere people we have encountered anywhere.
The reason we haven't posted again - my friend's tablet was broken during the robbery. My iPhone is old , very slow, and we have been walking 30km most days since the robbery, so we haven't opportunity to read the forum and post again.
Here are more details; the 2 men jumped from the embankment blocking our passage and demanded money, we refused. One was wielding a stick and the other started throwing punches. I was wrestled to the ground by the man with stick, while my friend defended himself from the other. When it became apparent that I was in a very vulnerable position, my friend said 'Enough I will give you my money, if you let her go.' I was able to run away while the men continue to threaten my friend who gave them the money from his bag. The men then, fortunately, ran away.
We were able to report to the police within the hour. They were excellent, we can't speak more highly of them. They are not doing nothing about this!
We just ask pilgrims to be forever vigilante, only have small sums of money along with you, and if you have to walk this section of the Camino before Porto, please be extra careful on the Roman road section.
Bon Camino
"Just the facts, ma'am." -Sgt Joe FridayHow did they rob you? You say "we", how many people were with you and did they use a weapon or just ask for money? I'm a LEO so I'm just curious about their method.
Thank you so much for reporting this on the forum and to the police, Chieko. I hope this can go in the Crime section or the Personal Safety section. I just heard of another attempted robbery on - I think it was the Via de la Plata - a couple of weeks ago. I'm so sorry this happened to you and hope that you are able to continue your Camino with whatever resources are available or can at least get home safely.[/QUO
Having walked several Camino's, I've noticed recently a few very undesirable people dressed in Pilgrim style outfits with backpacks who are simply waiting for an opportunity to rob Pilgrims. These low life are not Pilgrims but simply crooks.About 10km before Porto we were robbed on the camino by 2 men on the roman road stretch, calzada romana, as named in John Brierley's guide book. A photo of the exact place is shown in his guide book. The place is in the forest called Serra de Canelas on mapswithme. If you see 2 men sitting on the embankment at the start of this road, GO BACK, don't attempt to pass unless in a group. Be vigilante in this area. The police are aware of the situation.
Please don't. The CP is safe. This is an isolated incident I am sure and the policia will surely have it resolved.I am leaving for Coastal Way in a week. The post suddenly shifted my concern from blisters to the safety issue, which i did not see as a concern till now. I am travelling alone, woman in her middle, not really a wrestler type. Should I change my planes, and go for random wine tour instead....
Oh please don't do a wine tour as each night on the Camino you will be experiencing the best house wines anywhere. By now you have already commenced your Camino. As others have said, walk with another Pilgrim. I have been off air and travelling for a while, I assume the Coastal way was the Camino in Spain.I am leaving for Coastal Way in a week. The post suddenly shifted my concern from blisters to the safety issue, which i did not see as a concern till now. I am travelling alone, woman in her middle, not really a wrestler type. Should I change my planes, and go for random wine tour instead....
I was just wondering where he got his info from too. I also spend about 2-3 months a year in Spain and to the best of my knowledge their self defence laws are similar to what we have recently decreed in Ireland.Can you back that up with some proof/source of information please? As far as I know, and I live in Spain (and have done so previously for several years), acting in self defense (with reasonable means) is perfectly ok before the Spanish law. Reasonable means meaning you match, or only slightly exceed, the thread that is shown towards you. Examples:
Somebody shouts a verbal insult at you and you knife them in the heart - NOT reasonable means, even if you felt threatened.
Somebody puts an knife at your throat and threatens to kill you and you defend yourself with your walking stick and happen to take his/her eye out with it - Reasonable means as as your life was in danger.
BC SY
I walked the Camino Frances on my own last fall and loved it. I was scared as a single woman, older, walking alone. But that trail is well travelled and you are never on your own long. It was my intent to do the Portuguese trail, likely again on my own. I was told it is less travelled and so you don't see people as often. Should I reconsider?Please don't. The CP is safe. This is an isolated incident I am sure and the policia will surely have it resolved.
Waywalker, if you do decide to do this trail please post back and let us know how safe you felt. I am considering the same trip, single, female, middle, non wresler type.Please don't. The CP is safe. This is an isolated incident I am sure and the policia will surely have it resolved.
Thank you Grayland.....you are exactly correct. Thanks for making the remark.Let's try to keep the conversation on the reported incident in the original post.
Speculation/opinion on Spanish law would best be taken to a separate thread.
Thanks.
I did the CP in August/Sept of 2016. No incidents and felt completely safe. It is less traveled than the CF route so more isolated.Waywalker, if you do decide to do this trail please post back and let us know how safe you felt. I am considering the same trip, single, female, middle, non wresler type.
I did not feel any threats on the CP at all. I did feel some strange energy on the CF a few times.I walked the Camino Frances on my own last fall and loved it. I was scared as a single woman, older, walking alone. But that trail is well travelled and you are never on your own long. It was my intent to do the Portuguese trail, likely again on my own. I was told it is less travelled and so you don't see people as often. Should I reconsider?
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