Portugal 2019 Crime & Safety Report
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Portugal 2019 Crime & Safety Report This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Portugal at Level 1, indicating travelers should exercise normal precautions. Overall Crime and Safety Situation The U.S. Embassy in Lisbon does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizens’ Services unit (ACS) cannot recommend a particular individual or location, and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided. Review OSAC’s Portugal-specific page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Crime Threats There is moderate risk from crime in Lisbon, and minimal risk in Ponta Delgada. Portugal has a relatively low rate crime, but non-violent street crime is common. Petty thefts and other crimes of opportunity (e.g. vehicle break-ins, pickpocketing, surreptitious bag snatching) occur frequently, particularly in the major cities. Thieves often loiter in tourist locations, near beaches, and at transportation hubs (e.g. metro, bus, train stations) to take advantage of disoriented/distracted travelers. Pickpockets take advantage of crowds getting on/off of all forms of public transportation, using the jostling of the crowd as a distraction. Wallets and cellphones are particularly vulnerable. Crime reporting typically increases during the summer, primarily due to the increase in tourism. Pickpocketing in the Lisbon area is most likely to occur in buses, hotel lobbies, restaurants, the airport, trains, train stations, and trams. Take special care in the Oriente, Santa Apolonia, Entrecampos, Marques do Pombal, and Rossio metro and train stations; the Sete Rios bus station; the Alfama, Martim Moniz, Baixa, and Bairro Alto districts; and the tourist area of Belém. The 28 Tram is particularly notorious for pickpocketing; pay very close attention to all belongings while waiting for or riding on the 28. Surreptitious purse snatchings occur in restaurants and bars from bags left on the backs of or underneath chairs. Criminal incidents occur with less frequency in Madeira and significantly less in the Azores than in mainland Portugal. Pickpocketing, while infrequent, may occur in the Old Town and Santa Catarina Park areas of Funchal in Madeira. On São Miguel Island, in the Azores, petty crime is more likely in the areas of Ponta Delgada and Rabo de Peixe. In the Azores, police have received a few reports of theft of belongings from vehicles parked at turn-outs by walking trails. 1 Theft of belongings from inside vehicles has risen significantly as the number of tourists to Portugal has increased. Thieves will pop locks on vehicle doors and trunks, taking all personal belongings found in the vehicle, even if those belongings are out of sight. The tourist area of Sintra reports a particularly high rate of these break-ins; take special care when parking in the areas around the castles and palaces there. Thefts are common in the popular tourist destinations of Cascais, Mafra, Obidos, Fatima, Coimbra, Setubal, Porto; in the Algarve; and at the beachfront areas of Peniche, Nazaré, Guincho, Cabo da Roca, and Boca do Inferno. Sexual assaults against women are rare. However, there have been reports of women having their drinks drugged in bars in the Bairro Alto area. Do not take a drink from someone you do not know, and never leave your drink unattended. For more information, review OSAC’s Report Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad. While recently updated laws have increased regulation of private security activities (to include bouncers at bars and nightclubs), exercise caution in dealing with nightclub security. Bouncers are prone to violence, and police often struggle to find evidence or witnesses to any events related to an escalation of force by the security staff. Organized crime is not a major issue. Eastern European criminal organizations are present, and predominantly engage in racketeering, extortion, and vice-related criminal activity (e.g. gambling, prostitution, narcotics). Other gang activities are generally limited to immigrant ethnic groups and focused on narcotics, petty crimes, and turf protection. ATMs are widespread and accept most U.S. cards for fund withdrawals. Avoid using ATMs in isolated or poorly lighted areas, or on open sidewalks; instead, use machines inside bank alcoves, and secure cash and belongings before departing the bank area. Many local establishments will only accept cash payments or credit cards with a chip. For more information, review OSAC’s Report, The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud. The increase in tourism has also sparked increased reports of thefts from hotel rooms. Lock all valuables in hotel safes, not just in locked suitcases. Use hotel safety deposit boxes usually kept behind the hotel front desk; hotel room safes offer only marginal levels of protection. Do not get off on your floor or go to your hotel room if you feel someone is following you; go back down to the lobby and report the incident to the front desk. Do not open your hotel door to anyone you do not know; check with the front desk for verification if someone claims to be hotel staff. Know all entry and exit points in case of a fire. There have been increasing reports from all over mainland Portugal of robberies in vacation homes and online rental apartments. Lock doors at all times, secure belongings, and close windows while away or sleeping. When renting vacation lodging, be sure to assess and use available security features. For more information on home sharing, review OSAC’s Report, Safety and Security in the Share Economy. Cybersecurity Issues Cybercrime, in the form of online extortion and IT scams, is on the rise. Transportation-Safety Situation For more information, review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. 2 Road Safety and Road Conditions Highways are in exceptional condition, and secondary roads are generally of good quality and maintained well. In remote locations and in historic city centers, traffic lanes are very narrow and can be difficult to navigate. Traffic enforcement is limited, but the use of speed cameras is on the rise. The police in continental Portugal have the authority to issue on-the-spot fines, and most of their vehicles have portable machines to facilitate immediate payment. Particularly problematic are drivers who fail to properly merge, yield, and safely change lanes, as well as drivers disregarding traffic control signals. Motorists, especially motorcyclists, often drive excessively fast and violate traffic codes. Motorcyclists/scooters may drive between the lanes and go to the front of traffic at stoplights, all of which can be disconcerting for drivers not used to this practice. All highways have tolls. Most allow cash payment, but some smaller connecting highways only take electronic methods. Exercise particular caution when traversing intersections, as motorists often accelerate in an attempt to beat the traffic lights or become impatient sitting in line and disregard the traffic light altogether. While there is traffic congestion in Lisbon, Porto, and surrounding metropolitan areas, particularly during rush hours, incidents of road rage are rare. Incidents of serious traffic accidents in the Azores and Madeira are rare. However, high-speed driving, bad weather, and unskilled drivers contribute to accidents, including rollovers and those involving multiple vehicles, sometimes resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. In the Azores, driving can be challenging due to narrow cobblestone streets, blind curves and corners, and livestock on country roads. Fines for speeding violations registered by radar arrive to the offender via the postal service. Drivers and passengers must wear seatbelts. Drivers must use hands-free headsets for cell phone; if using headsets, one ear must remain uncovered/unobstructed, and should drive defensively. Always drive with your windows up and doors locked, especially when stopped at intersections. In Lisbon and other large cities, be mindful of beggars or street performers at intersections. For traffic accidents and emergencies, dial 112. Portuguese law requires you to leave your vehicle where it is and immediately notify the police. The drivers of the vehicles involved must exchange details and both/all parties complete the Declaração Amigável (“Friendly Agreement” accident report), which each driver submits to their own insurance company. All drivers must maintain third- party insurance coverage. For more information on self-driving, review OSAC’s Report Driving Overseas: Best Practices. Public Transportation Conditions Be careful on public transportation. Electronics and unattended luggage are particularly vulnerable to theft. When walking into train and metro stations at night, only enter well-illuminated and well-traveled stations. 3 Taxis are a reliable means of transportation, though you should be alert to possible discrepancies between the meter fare and the amount requested by the driver. Always ask the taxi driver to use the meter. Taxis can charge additional fees related to baggage, not including handbags. Always use a taxi from the queue or kiosk; do not drive with someone who walks up to you and offers you a ride. In the Azores, taxis do not have meters; the fare consists of a base fee plus a posted rate per distance traveled. Public buses are inexpensive. Bus services begin at 7 a.m. and generally operate until 8 p.m., depending on the destination. Bus and train/metro systems are reliable. Aviation/Airport Conditions The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government’s Civil Aviation Authority as compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Portugal’s air carrier operations. Find further information on the FAA’s safety assessment page.