Unlucky??

[hughnique]

I have a pal in our small village North of Saumur, with a holiday home, that has been burgled 3 times in a year, the first two they never took much, but this time they ransacked the place, took tele's and other trivial stuff, including his pots and pans. That in itself leads me to believe that it is manouche, stealing for scrap value. They even ripped the oven out but left that by the front gates, smashed to buggery. He took insurance out with AXA, gave them all the French bank account details, for direct debit, but they say that the debit never went through, he had a couple of demands from collection agencies, on behalf of Axa, which he says he paid, but now they are saying the insurance has lapsed, as the premiums were not paid. You would have thought they could have rung him and told him that the payments were not being paid, but on the other hand he should have checked his bank statements, to make sure.

[MAD87]

Oh dear. As you say, he should have checked. Next time, he might find squatters have moved in.

[Bayleaf]

Very unlucky. As you both say - checking bank statements is a must. Also, it sounds like that property, which sounds like it's rarely inhabited, was targeted. May even have had a ribbon tied to the front gate/fence - as this is a signal that it's a prime candidate for pilfering. Or someone just knew from previous break-ins.

We have a holiday home just up the road, belonging to a German lady. I mow the grass monthly, and the neighbouring farmer keeps a vague eye on the place as he tends the nearby fields. Her house has been broken into so many times over the years, as it's so isolated and she only visits once, maybe twice a year. There's nothing worth nicking, and the most recent incident was just plain vandalism of smashing the little windows at the top of the old garage doors in the sous-sol. Bored youngsters from a nearby hamlet would be my guess - but as it's next to a trail, anyone can pass by.

[Mangetout]

I have a pal in our small village North of Saumur, with a holiday home, that has been burgled 3 times in a year, the first two they never took much, but this time they ransacked the place, took tele's and other trivial stuff, including his pots and pans. That in itself leads me to believe that it is manouche, stealing for scrap value. They even ripped the oven out but left that by the front gates, smashed to buggery. He took insurance out with AXA, gave them all the French bank account details, for direct debit, but they say that the debit never went through, he had a couple of demands from collection agencies, on behalf of Axa, which he says he paid, but now they are saying the insurance has lapsed, as the premiums were not paid. You would have thought they could have rung him and told him that the payments were not being paid, but on the other hand he should have checked his bank statements, to make sure.

Which AXA agent was it, Bauge?

[hughnique]

Yes

[hughnique]

You feel sorry for him but he is his own worst enemy, he has "friends" french, in the village and a casual arrangement was made between him and the friend to let his aunt rent the small cottage attached to the main house, needless to say she defaulted, done a runner, after building up various debts associated with the address, arrival of bailiffs to seize property whilst he was over. To me I would get rid of it it seems doomed to me.

[hughnique]

Come on Mangetout you must have something to tell me??

[OTBC]

Where "North of Saumur"? I only ask as we have lived near Saint Lambert des Levées for 19 years and thankfully, have not had any problems.

A couple of times, our French neighbours have warned of "crims" in the area, but as most of the locals are farmers and, I assume, "armed", most "crims" will go for the safer option re; holiday homes etc.

Maybe our crap old French cars in the drive put them off!

[Liz]

As a professional property manager of second homes for many years, I can firmly say that if a second home is burgled once when empty it will be targetted again.
Please tell your friends not to leave any valuables in their second homes, and tell them to check with their insurers what locks they need on the house and on sheds, garages and poolhouses. Pool pumps are highly re-saleable btw.
I could go on for ages....

[hughnique]

Where "North of Saumur"? I only ask as we have lived near Saint Lambert des Levées for 19 years and thankfully, have not had any problems.

A couple of times, our French neighbours have warned of "crims" in the area, but as most of the locals are farmers and, I assume, "armed", most "crims" will go for the safer option re; holiday homes etc.

Maybe our crap old French cars in the drive put them off!

St Philbert du Peuple next to Longue