Hungary suffers rise in "highway" robberies

A significant rise in thefts committed on public roads was recorded in the first four months of 2008, an official of the National Police Office (ORFK) said this week.

According to Tibor Stigár, crime department leader of the ORFK, the number of reported crimes involving confidence tricks jumped from 46 in 2006 to 80 last year to 126 in the first four months of this year. Most of the victims are Romanian citizens, but Hungarians, Bulgarians, Germans and Serbians have been targeted as well by the perpetrators, who are said to be mostly Albanians.

The most dangerous roads are the M0, M1 and M5 motorways.

The method most often used by the robbers is to ask a driver for directions, and while the victim is explaining the directions to one of the bandits, an accomplice discreetly removes valuables from the car.

Another method is to "warn" motorists that they have a flat tire, and to strike while the victim is examining the supposed problem.

A smaller number of more audacious fraudsters have been disguising themselves as police officers.

According to the police, motorists can best protect themselves by storing valuables on their persons, keeping car doors locked, and if possible, having someone stay with the car when traveling near main roads.

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