Be on the alert for those cheeky car park thieves

Sir, This week we had the pleasure of our Mum for a visit to this lovely island.
She is over 70 years old and a jolly old soul.
We parked the car at Mercadona in La Vileta to get a few groceries. And Mum waited in the car with the door open enjoying the lovely Majorcan sunshine. A well dressed young man came over to her all concerned, and said that there was water leaking from the rear of the car and it was dangerous.
She went with him to look and he pointed to the bumper then walked away, leaving her mystified as to what she was supposed to be looking at.
When she returned to her seat her bag had been stolen.
The bag contained little money as she is a pensioner but it did contain essential heart pills.
The distress to her was dreadful and we dutifully reported the theft to the police. They were sympathetic but quite blasé about it all.
Later that evening we received a call from a very kind lady saying that she had discovered the bag discarded where she feeds some wild cats.
She got our number from Mum's phone book, which she found in the bag and even apologised for looking in the bag! We were so relieved for the bag's return, and mum for her essential pills, that I forgot to get the lady's number.
I did get her name and would like to say thank you very much Mabel for all your help.
On another note, it would seem that this kind of crime is rife.
Mabel informed me that just last week she had returned another bag to an airline pilot discovered in the same place.
She said her friend had been robbed when somebody had told her there was a kitten under her car.
I, myself, had my bag stolen at Alcampo last year. When I told my friend she said that she also had the same thing happen whilst going to her car.
Are we just an unlucky few?
I don't think so.
The Majorcan government should issue more notices on vigilance for this sort of thing.
Perhaps the government think that too much emphasis on the crimes would be bad for tourism, but I think a lot could be done. Security cameras, notices at tourist offices, more police patrols to name a few. For our part, we are happy to say that the theft hasn't spoilt mum's holiday too much but it would seem that the most vulnerable are the elderly who can't give chase and are often alone at the time of the crime. So please, Watch Your Bag! Don't make it easy for these cheeky thieves.
Helen Houlsworth by email
Don't blame the yachties! Sir, I am a member of the yachting community and I was surprised to read in a past issue that the local Majorca authorities are blaming the yachts for the vast amount of litter on their beaches. I find this beyond ridiculous.
I come from a Third World country where as a child we are taught that littering is a serious offence.
We have spot fines and everybody is aware.
I have never experienced the total lack of respect the local population have for their country.
Time and time again one will see plastic bottles and general rubbish thrown from cars. Adults sitting on the beautiful Paseo throwing their garbage on the ground. One only needs to walk down the Paseo first thing in the morning to see every type of rubbish left by young people having roadside parties while waiting for the clubs to open. What is more ridiculous is that this rubbish is usually not more than a few metres from a rubbish bin. It is a disgrace and I think it is time the people get educated and taught that littering is making the place ugly for all.
It should be noted that Antigua, for example, which is a base for big yachts in the Caribbean, has perfectly clean beaches and no litter problems at all. This really should make people think.
Name supplied