Expat warning as woman robbed in broad daylight

READERS are being warned to be cautious after a British woman was robbed in broad daylight in the Playa de los Locos area of Torrevieja.

After a relaxing drink in the sunshine on the seafront, Dave Clarkson and his partner of 22 years, Patricia Roach, were walking back to their holiday home in Calas Blancas urbanisation, holding hands and chatting away when the incident occurred.

Pat is still very distressed about the attack and fought back the tears and the obvious shock when telling her story; “We were just walking along when this man came from behind me.

He put one hand over my mouth and reached around my neck to rip off my gold necklace.

“It all happened in a couple of seconds and although Dave was right beside me, he did not know anything had happened until the attacker removed his hand from my mouth and ran off.

“I honesty thought I was going to die. I thought he was going to kill me!”

Both Pat and Dave are widowers and retirees and although Dave gave chase, the younger man was very organized and made a quick get-a-way.

On hearing the disturbance, a couple of very helpful local residents came to their aid and knew of a Police patrol, who where checking cars, just one street away.

Pat and Dave told the Guardia Civil what had happened and two officers immediately jumped in their car and speed off to try and apprehend the thief.

This criminal got away, is still on the loose. Pat received a bruise and a mark on her chest from the altercation and went to La Loma health centre for treatment, on advice from the Guardia Civil, who also asked them to make a report at the local station.

Dave said: “I did not know anything until he was running away and gave chase but he escaped on a bicycle that was between two cars down a different side street. We would like to send a warning out to women not to wear gold around their necks, even during the day, and not to carry handbags.”

Pat and Dave have had a holiday home in Torrevieja for 13-years and visit half-a-dozen times a year.

Pat said “I’m always very cautious when I go out. I never take a handbag and last Thursday I was wearing a jacket, which covered up my necklace.

“The thief must have been watching us as we had a drink, because when I took off my jacket to sit down, this would have been the only time he could have seen it.”

Dave added “This is obviously a professional. He was watching the pub for a victim. He had his bike already set for his get-a-way.

He followed us.

He attacked from behind, very swiftly, and was gone in an instant. Pat has very high blood pressure and along with the shock, this could have killed her. It’s very serious and we hope that this will act as a warning to others not to wear Jewellery or carry a handbag, in case the same happens to you.”

This was the second incident within a week.

The other was when a couple were walking home late at night in the same area, when she had her face pushed against a wall and had her handbag snatched.

Pat remains upbeat and refuses to let the incident impact her enjoyment of living on the Costa Blanca. Both still go to the pub to pick up their newspapers and chat with their friends.

They walk hand-in-hand to the seafront on a daily basis and put the incident down to experience.

The man has been described as dark-skinned man and was completely dressed in black.

By Keith Nicol