Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Just got back from a fabulous week in Bansko, went with friend and her family who stayed in a rented apartment in the Monastry, I stayed with my friends sister who has an apartment in The Refrectory. After being out all Friday from 12 til about 11pm, my friend returned to her apartment to find all the money she had left in the apartment had been stolen with no sign of a break in, therefore somebody had used a key, no other valueables had been taken. My friends partner informed the security who phoned the Police, my friend phoned Alexander Services the letting agent to inform them and ask that somebody come to meet the police, My friend got annoyed on the phone because they showed no concern, especially when she told her they were leaving at 7am to go home and didn't have money to buy food or drink at the airport, she actually laughed, (this was not the owner by the way). 3 policemen came and showed little concern, just kept asking if they had insurance, didn't seem concerned that somebody had got in with a key. Eventually a man turned up from Alexander services, he came into the room ignored my friend and family and just started talking to the police in Bulgarian, He was arrogant and cockily chewing gum. My friends sister walked over to him to ask what they were going to do about it, he just shrugged, she was not happy and asked his name, he refused to give it to he so she rang Alexander services who told her,she made a complaint. While sat in the room waiting for the man to come one police man stayed in the room, we tried to ask him questions, he said he did not understand. Before the police had been called my friends 11 yr old daughter had been hysterical when she found her 110lv and £20 note had been stolen, she had celebrated her birthday while in Bansko, we calmed her down and tried to lighten up the mood because she was scared they would come back. The police officer was very intimidating and kept staring at us intimidatingly, we felt they certainly didn't believe us. eventually, after pressure from us asking what action they were going to take the policeman said that my friends partner should go with them to the police station to file a complaint. They took a statement, written in Bulgarian, then asked him to sign it, it could of said anything. They told him he would receive an e-mail within 2 months, they didn't even give him a crime number if my friend did want to try to claim from her insurance.The next day after my friend had gone home, myself and my friends sister went to Alexander Services to see if there was an update on the burglary, the girl said the police had said we were all lying and that my friends sister had been rude. We have been told by another letting agent that this is not a regular occurence in Bansko, though this is no consolation to my friend and her family, though it won't put us off returning to Bansko. I would say don't leave any money in your apartment especially if they are let by Alexander Services and don't expect any help from the Bulgarian police.

Security in the appartment blocks won't give you any peace.
Unless you have safebox somethere to stash cash you are asking for trouble.
Steve Romanian and Greek groups?
It is easy to shift it to other nations and soften the blow on the home country.
There are plenty of usual groups going around places with tourists (in ski resorts and on the Beach)
This is kind of norm for Bulgaria-you have to agree with that especially you being in the land for few years now.
I bet you are not leaving money on the table in you house in a village .
Tourists being in BG in a flat with keys which have been given to somebody else (every week to different people) before is more than clear.
Common sence ( guard you posessions all of the time while in BG or be a gambling man and leave all to pure luck.

SC Allow me to have a better inside knowledge (not in general only) as regards the criminality and nationalities of the culprits Please.
My point was that Roms or Vizantians or Serbs Makies etc is irelevant.
Going into a appartment block in Bulgaria is like entering a free house with a swinging doors.
I would not leave while dining or pub crolling in that flat anything else but my nickers and socks only. Let alone something with kind of value small or big.
Or maybe you are saying to us that Bansko is Secure (and more than any place in Bulgaria ? I don't know what you mean
Especially a place without safe deposit box facilities.
This is no negative posting SC just common sence while in Bulgaria.
Even in my establishments if I have to stay and leave something I change the safety box codes with overriding.Just to be on the safe side

I also have had experience of items being stolen from a hotel room in Borevets several years ago when on a trip with a group of students-the police weren't a lot of help but to be fair they couldn't do much. The student's room showed no sign of break in and I felt it could have been the bar man who had a room opposite and had the opportunity to know when the room was empty- however no proof. My friend also had her jewellery stolen from her suitcase along with cigarettes in transit home.I always thought it was ill advised to put jewellery in a suitcase!!This happens every where not just Bulgaria so it is always important to be security minded.After these experiences I never carry a handbag on holiday-carry my money in secret pockets in my skicoat which is always with me or have a child size bumbag for use in restaurants/nightclubs etc and I never take valuable jewellery on holiday. It is sensible to try to drum this into the children's head as they get upset when their I pads etc go missing.Any theft is an upsetting experience
and I am sure many of out forum readers who have had their home broken into will have increased their security afterwards-stable/bolt and horse come to mind!!