NEW THREAT TO DRIVERS

While driving through Barcelona in heavy traffic, I stopped at traffic lights. Two people got out of the car behind me, OPEL Zafira, silver, 6209 FBJ. While one distracted my attention, the other punctured my nearside rear tyre. According to the police who saw the car later, they used a striker pin or a letter opener. When I started to move off again, I heard a noise typical of a punctured tyre. A driver to my left blew his horn to attract my attention and signed to me not to stop. Another driver indicated to me to lower my window and when I did so, he told me that the people in the car behind had punctured my tyre, and that I should lock all my doors and not stop until I found a police car. When I managed to stop, two people from the Opel Zafira came towards us but we shouted to them that we were speaking to the police. They gave an angry reply and rushed off in their car. There was a third person in the car.

We were told that these criminals usually use motorcycles but use the same methods. They always puncture the rear nearside tyre because it is farthest from the driver. The Guardia Civil gave me the following advice for this kind of situation:

If you notice that you have a punctured tyre, and there are suspicious looking people on motorcycles near you, lock all your doors and do not lower your window. Look out for the police and stop beside them.

Do not enter any car park. Call the police on your mobile phone.

THIS IS A REAL THREAT AND ORGANISED GANGS ARE USING THIS METHOD IN MANY CITIES.

(source Patricia Mora - Councillor for Public Security Altea )