Plakias Forums
Plakias => Plakias => Topic started by: beachcombers on January 04, 2006, 01:00:35 PM
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Hi All,
South Crete is entering the European world:
(And we are sad )
Robbery at the bakery in Plakias
Container Terminal in Timbaki
New village near Matala.
See: http://www.cretegazette.com/ (http://www.cretegazette.com/)
Beachcombers
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Great link even if the news is disheartening. It's good to have news of Crete from a different viewpoint.
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€4000 robbery....
from the till at the bakery! .....
in winter???
there must have been one hell of a rush on the spinach pies that day
watch out ....here they come again
(btw the crete gazette is now run by yannis from explorecrete)
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€4000 robbery....
from the till at the bakery! .....
in winter???
there must have been one hell of a rush on the spinach pies that day
watch out ....here they come again
(btw the crete gazette is now run by yannis from explorecrete)
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=5105\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Amazing the amount of "oliebollen" they must have been selling on 31-12.
Beachcombers
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Unfortunately, this wasn't the first robbery in Plakias.
One of the bigger supermarkets was burgled in Novemeber 2004.
Even worse, our own Ali and Dave's place was burgled in early October 2005.
(Theirs is the Agora or mini-market in the same street as Anso Travel and almost opposite).
For those who don't already know, Ali and Dave are an English couple who made the move to Plakias about 4 years ago (if I remember right) and are well known to many forums users due to their regular forum contributions and attendance at the annual Plakforms meet.
Ali and Dave lost all their stock of cigarettes and telephone cards along with some small change.
The total value was about 6,500 Euros, or roughly their profit for the whole year.
The loss meant that Ali and Dave could not afford to spend Christmas in England as they usually do so they stayed in Plakias this time.
I understand why Ali and Dave have not posted on the forum about their loss but I feel that it should be publicised, partly to inform members about the increase in crime in the village but mainly to encourage forum members to give them our support in the coming season.
So I sought their permission before writing this post.
We all like to have a friendly, English speaking contact in the village at times and Ali and Dave are always most helpful when we need it.
Please make an effort to give them your custom if you visit Plakias this year.
Hopefully they will be able to spend Christmas 2006 with their friends and family again.
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Please make an effort to give them your custom if you visit Plakias this year.
Hopefully they will be able to spend Christmas 2006 with their friends and family again.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=5128\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Agreed.
This event took place when we were there and we commiserated with Dave at the time. I did not post about the event at the time out of respect for them because as you said they themselves did not mention it and there may have been reasons for not doing so.
The previous year there was also a robbery at a jewellers shop - again when we were there (no don't come to any conclusions folks).
I don't think these actions reflect badly on Creten culture and in particular Plakias itself. It is still a very safe place to be and I suspect that many of these problems may be due to outsiders.
So let's carry on enjoying Plakias and yes - do as much trade with Ali and Dave as is possible.
John
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Thank you to both John's for your support and kind thoughts. It was a serious shock when it happened but we got some great support from people who were here at the time.
I think it is important to point out that most of this crime mentioned is organised and is targetting specific businesses. Plakias is still a very safe place to life and I have not heard of any petty crimes.
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Well, what a sad topic for me to pick for my first contribution in ages!
I've already written to Ali and Dave expressing my shock and sorrow at their experiences (although it was with their Christmas card, so it's probably not arrived yet!)
Personally, I agree with Ali that Plakias remains a generally safe place for a holiday, and we're in the process of getting next years booking(S?) sorted out!
I do use their shop regularly - not only to get my groceries, but to catch up in English with what's going on in the village. I also order my 'duty frees' and Ali always has them ready for me in time. Ali also likes to know what her customers like, and makes every attempt to stock it (full marks for getting the Cherry juice last year girl!)
Ali and Dave - I hope you enjoyed a great Plakias Christmas - looking forward to sharing a beer in a few months time!
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Hallo John, good to see you alive!
So it's one good thing in all these horrible new years' news. Can't cope with the imagination of a harbour sized like Pireaus on the south coast of crete! [Or anywhere around there] Imagine all the fatal influences...the pollution of the whole environment...the air, the sea, thousands of ships passing by the beaches ...some may break in pieces... Exxon Valdez in Plakias... Volunteers working with spades and spoons to clean Microamoudi... [Gives "Oil Extra Virgine from Crete" a new meaning] Thats the wonderful world of purest Horror-Capitalism! [I thought the Chinese were Communists once?!] This is the worst kind of robbery. It gives me the strong urge to vomit! Oh Lord, please give us the beach bar on far end back instead of it!!!
Do you remember that a few years ago a similar project was planned on the Island of gavdopoula [next to gavdos] Due to the cretan, greek and international protest it was cancelled. Let's unite against this project!
Sad and angry
Shinaria
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Thank you to both John's for your support and kind thoughts. It was a serious shock when it happened but we got some great support from people who were here at the time.
I think it is important to point out that most of this crime mentioned is organised and is targetting specific businesses. Plakias is still a very safe place to life and I have not heard of any petty crimes.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=5137\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Hello Ali & Dave,
I would like to associate myself with the supportive E-Mails on this sad subject.
I heard in the last couple of days that there was a 6.9 Richter scale earthquake in the seas off Crete. Was this felt in Plakias? In about 30 Greek visits I have only encountered an earth tremor once, in Zakynthos, and it was over before I fully realised what it was. In England we forget that the eastern Med is rather geologically unstable.
Mike
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I heard in the last couple of days that there was a 6.9 Richter scale earthquake in the seas off Crete. Was this felt in Plakias? In about 30 Greek visits I have only encountered an earth tremor once, in Zakynthos, and it was over before I fully realised what it was. In England we forget that the eastern Med is rather geologically unstable.
Mike
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=5166\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
i have experianced two while on holiday in crete, BUT a couple of years ago we had about a dozen minor ones in MANCHESTER!!
weird i tell you
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Protest seem to grow...
For those who are interested [though it's in german]:
http://www.kein-containerhafen-in-timbaki.com (http://www.kein-containerhafen-in-timbaki.com)
shinaria
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Protest seem to grow...
For those who are interested [though it's in german]:
[url]http://www.kein-containerhafen-in-timbaki.com[/url] ([url]http://www.kein-containerhafen-in-timbaki.com[/url])
shinaria
I had a look through the link and did not find any address where we could sent protest mail. If somebody knows the e-mail or snail-mail addresses of the right Greek and Cretan authorities please publish them here.
Tom
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Protest seem to grow...
For those who are interested [though it's in german]:
[url]http://www.kein-containerhafen-in-timbaki.com[/url] ([url]http://www.kein-containerhafen-in-timbaki.com[/url])
shinaria
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=5174\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Another nearby resort (Malta) has it's container terminal!
A good impression of Tymbaki's future.
[attachment=285:attachment]
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Protest seem to grow...
For those who are interested [though it's in german]:
[url]http://www.kein-containerhafen-in-timbaki.com[/url] ([url]http://www.kein-containerhafen-in-timbaki.com[/url])
shinaria
I had a look through the link and did not find any address where we could sent protest mail. If somebody knows the e-mail or snail-mail addresses of the right Greek and Cretan authorities please publish them here.
Tom
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([url]http://index.php?[/url]act=findpost&pid=5175\")
Not sure if it helps: (or contact webmaster under Impressum?)
[a href=\"http://crete-island-friends.info/index.html]http://crete-island-friends.info/index.html[/url]
Leen
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[url]http://crete-island-friends.info/index.html[/url] ([url]http://crete-island-friends.info/index.html[/url])
Leen
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=5179\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
i've emailed the webmaster, lets see what he has to say
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Another nearby resort (Malta) has it's container terminal!
A good impression of Tymbaki's future.
[attachment=285:attachment]
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=5178\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
[/quote]
OK Leen
Let's be honest here, what were you actually taking a photograph of.
Do you really have an interest in containers?
george g...
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It really is sad to hear about robberies in Plakias.
Years ago on our first visit to Plakias we were let off the bus at about 4 a.m., having arrived at about midnight in Heraklion. We were surprised to find the front door of the Lamon Hotel wide open and the keys to our room displayed on the counter, ready for the taking. As we needed to unwind after the long journey we went for a short walk along the road. It was dark and no one was to be seen. We then noticed that the stalls of goods of a supermarket still stood outside and only were covered by a blanket. Then we realized that in this place the people apparently had no fear of thieves. We have never experienced any thieves, even when we forgot a camera on a chair outside it was kept for us waiting for us to come back and fetch it. It would be very sad if things would change. Having said this, we're under the impression that at least a number of the businesses are (being forced to) pay money for protection, or in other words: that a price is already being paid for the apparently authentical peace and quiet. There is more to this than meets the eye...
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Another nearby resort (Malta) has it's container terminal!
A good impression of Tymbaki's future.
[attachment=285:attachment]
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=5178\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
OK Leen
Let's be honest here, what were you actually taking a photograph of.
Do you really have an interest in containers?
george g...
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=5183\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
[/quote]
All subjects had my interest: Ships, blue sea, cranes, containers, etc.
The tourists in front spoiled the picture.
Leen
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Having said this, we're under the impression that at least a number of the businesses are (being forced to) pay money for protection, or in other words: that a price is already being paid for the apparently authentical peace and quiet. There is more to this than meets the eye...
Traditionally theft has been almost unknown on Greek islands. A couple of friends of mine once rented a house on Leros for 6 months, never locked their front door, and the only time they got robbed was when they left the car outside an army base. Locals were shocked and incredulous that such a thing could happen.
It is disturbing to read suggestions of a "protection racket" in Plakias. However I am reminded of what happened to Julia's Place, a taverna run by a South African couple, back in the 90s: what I heard was that they were basically run out of town by local heavies. Any old-timers have any more accurate info on this?
(Julia's Place was on the site of what is now the apartment block run by Gio-ma.)
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it is definetly the case across there with the protection rackets - i know a story of a english guy who was helping out the reps for a few months and was promoting rivals against rivals on the transfers from the airport, and got told to leave or be kneecapped. that was about 12 years ago though
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Mike
We certainly did feel the earthquake down here in Plakias. It was the biggest one we had felt here (several last summer). Our apartment was seriously shaking and just as we felt it should finish it got stronger. All the clothes in the wardrobe were swaying from where Dave was sitting he could see the side of the building moving in comparison to the headland behind.
Much talk about it around town and from what we have been told it was much worse in Xania. One person driving towards Xania had to stop.
Luckily we have all lived to tell the tale and certainly makes you realise the hell they must have gone through in Central Asia where is was much much worse.
Ostraco John,
Good to see you back on line. We did get the Christmas Card thank you, will try and write email soon, honest!
Ali
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Just reading the comments about the protection rackets, I was fairly surprised. We have seen no evidence of this happening and certainly we have had no problems. It is the case here that you do need to watch your behaviour. I am a 'guest' in Plakias, your family needs to have been here for generations to be a local. If you upset people here (whether you are Greek or non-Greek) people will let you know.
It also works the other way that if I have been pestered in bars (hardly happens compared to UK) or one occassion some malicious gossip spread around, our friends here have put a stop to it quickly.
As I said before crime here is still very low key and as long as your behaviour is acceptable there should be no trouble.
Ali