Service Stations

[uakelly]

I wanted to warn forum members about leaving your car unattended at motorway service stations. On Sat 17th we were travelling back from Naples having picked family up at the airport. We stopped at Campagna services for them to have a coffee. We left a bag on the back seat. While someone was going to stay with the car at onetime we were all inside deciding what to get. Afterwards we were outside with the car roughly in view. We were complacent as we thought it was too public for a break in. However we didnt 'have a break in' Car was still locked but bag had been swiped. Fortunately there was nothing of value in it, otherwise like to think we wouldnt have left it on the seat. There was a lot of value in the boot but it was obviously too public for that. We think they used a device that picked up the code? whatever when we locked the car. At one stage someone also returned to the cat and unlocked and locked it again. There was a very pleasant couple drinking cokes right beside it and that seemed good. We now realise they were targetting cars. When we spoke to people at the services we were told it was common, gangs from Naples target the service stations. We were very lucky and lost nothing of importance but just wanted to warn you.

[billy]

The same thing is happening in the UK as well, in supermarket car parks etc. The Police advice here is to lock the car door using the key and not by the central locking system.
Billy.

[john.p.clegg]

...and watch out for the last service station on the way into Naples for Capodiccino (sp),the attendant didn't expect me to be fully awake and tried to charge me for his last sale as well as mine, when I asked him (in broad English) to fill her up......... after my protestations (and a knowing smile) I managed to persuade him my tank didn't hold 70 litres....

John

[MarKel]

The same thing happened to me last year at that same petrol station outside Naples, I think it was at Ercolana. My tank was half full, and I expected to pay in the region of €30 to fill it up. I was charged €70+, but couldn't prove that my tank had been half full when I pulled in. He pointed out the total registered on the pump, which hadn't been cleared after the previous customer. I had no option but to pay up.
You live and learn.

Markel