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There are stories of some people having a problem but when you consider the number of motorhomes travelling around the incidents are relatively few. We and many others have spent weeks in both France and Spain and we have neither had nor seen any such trouble.

We will be setting off for Spain at the end of January and we will take the usual precausions. These include staying on Campsites while travelling down and keeping an eye open for any unusual travelling companions.

I would say do not let it stop you going if you want to.

Mike

It happened to my parents a few years ago as they were driving through France, to Spain. On a deserted stretch of road they suddenly had a flat tyre, completely and immediately flat. Out of nowhere these 2 men appeared and were very friendly and helpful and helped them to change the tyre. they talked in french the whole time to my parents so they had to concentrate to reply in their rusty speech. Anyway it wasn't until they were on their way again that they realised Mum's handbag was gone.

It took them about 6 months to resolve the problem as the banks and services dont tend to check card use unless it is over a certain amount. The police believe the robbers use them to pay for tolls and such like so avoiding detection.

It did not deter them from travelling, just made them more vigilant.

We met a couple in Girona in December who had been subject to this type of robbery after leaving an autoroute petrol station near Valencia in southern Spain a couple of days before.  They were driving a British registered van, and going down from their home near Limoges to see friends in southern Spain for Christmas.  They were one of nine similar victims on the same stretch of road during that one day (a fiesta day in Spain, when there were lots of tourists around).  They were told by the police that the perpetrators were an east European gang, very well organised, and very difficult to catch. 

As everyone previously has said, take care - when leaving the service area check your tyres, and if you do develop a flat tyre make sure that the car doors are locked whilst you are outside replacing the tyre, and that valuables are well hidden or kept in one of those wallets which goes under your clothes.  If anyone does offer help then keep a close eye on them whilst you are working.