Reporting a crime

Help needed!
My friend had a mobile phone stolen from the glove box of her locked car parked at moncayo beach. No windows broken to gain access so obviously they have equipment to override the locking system. She visited local police and Guardia civil in Guardamar to report the incident in the hope of getting a crime number for insurance purposes . She was told to go to police in Almoradi and didn't receive a good reception in fact they were extremely rude.They wouldn't deal with the case unless she had an interpreter with her. She doesnt know of an interepreter,can anyone advise is this the case ?
Regards
Blackrock

It's quite usual for the Guardia to want you to use an Interpreter to report a crime. You'll find Interpreters advertise in the local papers

Blackrock22 wrote:Help needed!
My friend had a mobile phone stolen from the glove box of her locked car parked at moncayo beach. No windows broken to gain access so obviously they have equipment to override the locking system. She visited local police and Guardia civil in Guardamar to report the incident in the hope of getting a crime number for insurance purposes . She was told to go to police in Almoradi and didn't receive a good reception in fact they were extremely rude.They wouldn't deal with the case unless she had an interpreter with her. She doesnt know of an interepreter,can anyone advise is this the case ?
Regards
Blackrock

the Guardia in Guardamar have an interpreter based there free of charge.

An interpreter is a must. You are in Spain and as such, the police speak spanish. It is your responsibility to speak spanish, not theirs to speak English. We were burgled in February and had to report the crime in Almoradi...with an interpreter. The crime department is very understaffed by all accounts so an interpreter can only help to speed things up. Sorry to hear of your theft, always need to be on guard and not leave valuables around. We found our burglary to be the wake up call we needed!! Cheers, Paul.

Good post Paul

Paul Stotesbury wrote:An interpreter is a must. You are in Spain and as such, the police speak spanish. It is your responsibility to speak spanish, not theirs to speak English. We were burgled in February and had to report the crime in Almoradi...with an interpreter. The crime department is very understaffed by all accounts so an interpreter can only help to speed things up. Sorry to hear of your theft, always need to be on guard and not leave valuables around. We found our burglary to be the wake up call we needed!! Cheers, Paul.

Totally agree, a lot of people seem to forget they are in Spain and should try to speak the language.

There's never a good time to report a crime to the Guardia Civil, but August is probably the worst time.

They are not very civil at the best if times if you don't speak Spanish, or even if you do, but in August they are run off of their feet wth petty crime unfortunately.

polop wrote:

Paul Stotesbury wrote:An interpreter is a must. You are in Spain and as such, the police speak spanish. It is your responsibility to speak spanish, not theirs to speak English. We were burgled in February and had to report the crime in Almoradi...with an interpreter. The crime department is very understaffed by all accounts so an interpreter can only help to speed things up. Sorry to hear of your theft, always need to be on guard and not leave valuables around. We found our burglary to be the wake up call we needed!! Cheers, Paul.

Totally agree, a lot of people seem to forget they are in Spain and should try to speak the language.

Most Spanish lessons do not teach you enough to confront the police and tell them about a crime.. not just that, but to understand the replies from very busy, perhaps harassed police officers speaking in the local dialect...

It is easier to learn the language when you are younger and frankly, many of us would never have dreamed of living in Spain when we were younger.

Please cut the new arrivals a bit of slack..
.

mondo wrote:

polop wrote:

Paul Stotesbury wrote:An interpreter is a must. You are in Spain and as such, the police speak spanish. It is your responsibility to speak spanish, not theirs to speak English. We were burgled in February and had to report the crime in Almoradi...with an interpreter. The crime department is very understaffed by all accounts so an interpreter can only help to speed things up. Sorry to hear of your theft, always need to be on guard and not leave valuables around. We found our burglary to be the wake up call we needed!! Cheers, Paul.

Totally agree, a lot of people seem to forget they are in Spain and should try to speak the language.

Most Spanish lessons do not teach you enough to confront the police and tell them about a crime.. not just that, but to understand the replies from very busy, perhaps harassed police officers speaking in the local dialect...

It is easier to learn the language when you are younger and frankly, many of us would never have dreamed of living in Spain when we were younger.

Please cut the new arrivals a bit of slack..
.

Why would you want to confront the Police very aggressive, I am in my 60s and only having basic Spanish have always found if you try with Spanish they are very helpful, perhaps try a little

Thanks for all your advice , she has arranged for an interpreter to accompany her to Almoradi . Renewed thanks