Ex Leper Colony in Greece Hit by Robbers

Greek authorities have reported that an ex-leper colony located on a small island has been the target of a robbery.

Heavy tools were used in order to penetrate into the secured perimeter of an archeological site located on the uninhabited island of Spinalonga. Money obtained from ticket sold to tourists is missing.

He site itself did not present any damage as it seems the thieves were only interested in the cash, and they left as soon as they got their hands on it, without taking anything else. According to some sources, the sum missing ranged to almost 50,000 euros but it was not officially confirmed.

Greece is ranked as the 39^th most secure country in the world but there are some dangers waiting in the darkness for those that are not familiar with the country.

Taxi drivers are considered petty criminals by most Greeks. While in most cases they may try to charge you more than what it is worth. This is usually nothing more than an annoyance but in some cases they may try to persevere more than it is reasonable. A quick call to the police or asking the help of the hotel doorman will result in them fleeing as fast as they can.

The major problems in Greece are pickpockets and gang members that run robberies similar to the island job.  They try to steal anything they can, usually in places where there are lots of activities. The metro, markets and popular tourist locations are also a favorite pick for many pickpockets out for a quick buck.  If you rent an apartment for a short trip, be sure that it is situated in a safe and well-secured area, as they may also be target since you can easily break in if the door is not sturdy enough.

More than 40,000 tourists visited Spinaloga in the last year.  The remote island was used as a leper colony for several centuries until the disease was eradicated in Greece back in 1950’s.