Internet forums are a great source of information, usually from real people sharing real experiences and opinions, however it’s not uncommon for stories to get blown out of proportion and scare mongering to spread like wild fire.
A few recent stories of car rental crime in Tenerife are floating around at the moment and as with any news, it only takes a few unlucky people to tell their stories in a public forum and others to jump on the bandwagon and a frenzy can get underway very quickly. Of course, there will sadly be some unfortunate victims of crime in all walks of life, however it would seem unjust to single out car rental in Tenerife as being a particular target.
The case in hand suggests that groups are targeting Tenerife rental cars specifically, easily identified by the various rental car stickers in the rear windows and / or large sign writing down the side of the cars. It has been reported that whilst a rental car was left in a public car park and had been locked, upon return, the rental car customers noted that the car was still locked, however contents from inside had been removed, suggesting that someone gained access to the car with a key / fob and relocked the car once the goods had been stolen.
Now, there is little evidence beyond these forum posts, however comments soon followed with general tips to keep your belongings safe when hiring cars. Some simple tips to avoid car hire crime;
- Never leave valuables in the car, an opportunist thief will smash & grab for sunglasses, small amounts of cash, bags left in the car.
- Remove parcel shelf (hatchbacks) to show boot space is empty (some rental agents remove the parcel shelves anyway)
- Park car in well lit, public car parks where possible – the small parking fee could save you the car hire excess if a window is smashed
These tips are not exclusive to hire cars, it’s general good practice to reduce the risk of you being the victim of car crime.
So is car hire crime in Tenerife a genuine concern? Whilst we cannot ignore reported cases (thankfully not from any of our customers) such as the above, we’ve no reason to believe that
Tenerife rental cars are being specifically targeted and the risks should not be considered any higher than anywhere else where sadly tourist can be seen as soft targets. Taking the simple tips above on board to minimize the risks of you being one of the few unlucky ones in Tenerife or anywhere else for that matter.