Foreign and Commonwealth Office tells drivers not to sleep in parking areas
Authorities have issued a warning to those visiting the south of France after a spate of roadside attacks on foreign drivers.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, French “bandits” are targeting cars with foreign number plates because their occupants are likely to be tired after a long journey. The newspaper tells the tale of one British woman who has vowed never to go to France again after robbers let down her tyres and threw a rock through one of her car’s windows, leaving her needing six stitches. The assailants got away with a handbag containing cash, credit cards and passports.
The woman reportedly told the Mail: “If you are tired and driving through France and you need to stop, just don’t bother – it’s not safe.”
A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was reported to have said: “We advise people to keep cars locked when driving. It is common for bags to be snatched from passenger seats by passing thieves on motorbikes. There have also been a number of muggings at roadside areas where people have been sleeping in their cars. We advise people to avoid parking in roadside areas and to fit alarms.”
For the latest FCO advice visit www.fco.gov.uk/travel.
