Robberies on Avenida Meridiana

[UnHab]

Received from Carla on January 19, 2010

Hello,
My husband just send me a link with your robbery experiences in Barcelona and I also (like many others) would like to share mine.
My husband and I have been living in BCN for 2 years. We mainly communicate in English and for our looks we always seem like tourists.
Last December 2009 we decided to bring our car back from another European country, we decided this year we will go skiing and take more trips.
We had a pleasant drive back to barcelona from such foreign country until we cross the border France-Spain... just entering Avinguda Meridiana we get a flat tire (the right back tire) hmm we wondered how this could have happened if they were new winter tires. Innocent as we could have been (also the logic thing is to fix the problem) we pull over a side street from Meridiana, I stepped out of the car to "help" my exhausted husband when out of the blue this young guy on a motorcycle starts getting our attention by saying he new a Mechanic just around the corner and screaming "MIRA, MIRA!!!" out of the top of his lungs.
I had a feeling something was up and started walking back to the driver's seat but at the same time the guy on the motorcycle was getting closer to my husband (in an attempt to hurt him) my husband was still on the group changing the tire and also trying to ignore him, finish the job and get the hell out of there... so I decided to stay with him and yelling at the guy to get the fuck out (sorry). Well, all there is to say is that they had a very Merry Christmas and screwed ours because they took all the money, passports, NIE's, camera, antique jewelry among other things this making a total of over 2,600 euros plus they also took our dignity. We never felt so violated.
We found out about this great adventure "Thanks"? to an older guy that saw everything. Apparently this man said they we 2 in total. They were from the Middle East... what else is new.
The Police told us this events happen daily specially to foreign cars with 2 passengers Avenida Meridiana for this mafia is a target point right now and seems they are not planning to move business somewhere else.
No further help was provided by the Police and we had to wait 1 day to make our report... Police was on lunch hour and couldn't take us in GREAT!
We lost 2600 euros + paying for new documentation + our dignity.
I have to explain to my husband that this thieves are more vicious than ever and just because "really" there is no Police to be seen 95% of the time in the city (unless you call them) thieves do what they want, after all, ES SOLO HURTO *Police words* what they do and there is no penalty for it (I know is hurto if the amount stolen is less than 400 euros) but in my case is a crime. What about the ones being robbed? is we use self defense we are screwed up, and all those thieves? they attack you + robbed you and what happens to them? at the end, they win. All robbery no matter the amount is a crime and even more if you get hurt. I guess it is more important a coffee or lunch break than protect the citizens after all we pay taxes. It is the job o the Police to guard form time to time the streets THEY KNOW are a big target for thieves.
Hope this story helps others.
If we could all spread the word, it will make a difference: http://www.barcelonasinladrones.org/