THE piano recital had been heavenly.  Settled into the quaint living room at a friend's home, our children stepped to the piano one by one and regaled us with the fruits of their labours.  Beautiful chords flowed from their fingers, the notes of Christmas rang out in clear appeal as the snow gently fell.  As the last note rang out, dusk settled over the mountain, we loaded our tribe into our host's vehicle and he cavalierly transported us down the mountain, where we had left our own car.  We were some of the first guests to be shuttled to our vehicle but there would be several that would follow us.  As we exited the van, someone from our group noted a car and three gentlemen, one of whom was politely relieving himself to the side of a van.  Parents will appreciate the focus required to safely settle a mob of children into a cold car.  Other than making sure the line of kids circumvented the offending snow, we took little additional note of the three men. 

A short time later, as we were reliving the highlights of the piano recital, a call came on the GSM.  The van belonging to one of the families at the recital had been stolen.  We understood immediately that not only had we seen the perpetrators, but most probably had interrupted the actual crime.  To our astonishment, five adults could not agree on the make of the car, the licence plate, nor the description of the parties in question. 

If past experiences provide useful information for future events, I should be an expert in theft by now.  I am, unfortunately, an `experienced' victim.  People often ask if crime against foreigners is higher in Bulgaria than in other countries.   Certainly, the chances of becoming a victim rise significantly on foreign soil.  Perusing my pathetic list of countries where I have been robbed, Bulgaria joins a train in Italy, a public bus in Paris (an unsuccessful attempt), and a parked car in Bucharest.  Perhaps I should find consolation in a `list' which contains exotic places.  It is my unprofessional but practical opinion that theft occurs everywhere, but being a foreigner increases the chance of becoming a victim.

Two weeks after the stolen van, which police found the following day, a literal shell of its former self, another friend called.  She shared the unhappy news that their Land Rover had been burgled for the fifth time since August 2005.  She was a bit peeved to put it politely.  I listened with exasperation as she ran down the list of events.  The first incident occurred shortly after arriving in Bulgaria.  The criminals were attracted to the winch on their vehicle.  Personally, a winch would not top my Christmas list but presumably it is an item with great re-sale value.  Having successfully swiped the winch, the criminals returned two nights later for the remote control.  Evidently they discovered what every criminal should know:  a winch without a remote control is, well, worthless.  The sneaky crooks were careful to avoid setting off the alarms by not breaking the windows and thoughtfully left them neatly stacked beside the Land Rover - just what every foreigner hopes for - polite thieves.   

Months later, this same couple was happily motoring along the highway when their tyres began to go flat.  Instead of stopping on the side of the road, the driver limped the Land Rover to a gas station where he discovered the tyres had been intentionally stabbed.  One of the favourite tricks of the trade is ingeniously simple:  slit the tyres, when the driver exits the vehicle to check the damage, the thieves pull up and lift whatever valuables are currently left unattended in the car's interior.  The fourth attack upon the Land Rover was more brazen in its approach, but the goal was essentially the same:  they slashed the tyres at a red light and tried to grab the contents in the vehicle's interior. 

The most recent incident incurred upon this specific Land Rover culminated with the vehicle on blocks and the guard dog peacefully asleep after eating a drugged hot dog.  After the dog went to sleep, the bandits felt free to drill out the keyholes in the fence, enter the yard and get away with four snow tyres and the rims - not a bad pay-off for one night's work.

All of the foreign victims that I spoke with told the same story in varying accents:  the police were very professional, polite and sympathetic, but of little real help.  The thieves were able to perpetrate the crime and avoid being caught.  In some circumstances, the thieves made contact demanding ransom for the vehicles.  Other vehicles were stripped on the spot or left abandoned in a field. 

One similarity in the scenario concerning stolen vehicles had to do with the absence of Bulgarian insurance.  Vehicles with foreign insurance do seem to have a higher incidence of crime. 

Attempts to contact the police by phone to ask for advice were disappointingly unsuccessful.  One phone number was never answered.  A second number reached an officer, but he informed me that he did not have the authority to give advice to foreigners.  He suggested I contact the main police station downtown but he did not have the phone number on hand.  After some prompting on my part, he thought that he might be able to find the number if I called back later.  Call me cynical, but I sort of figured he might be out to lunch when I called back and I let it go. 

In lieu of professional advice, I thought I might offer a few home-spun suggestions since I do share the unenviable label of `experienced victim on foreign soil' with others.  On the train to Italy, I learned to spread your valuables around - don't keep everything in one pocket.  On the bus in France: always keep your bag in front of you and your hand securely on top of it.  It is also helpful to have a friend watch your back.  My husband saw the guy put his hand in my bag and yelled.  In Bucharest, I learned to never take your eyes off of your bag, even in the seeming security of your own vehicle. 

Right before Christmas, a friend and I were shopping along the street behind the Radisson when she was pick-pocketed.  The very sympathetic shop owner explained that the thieves dress nicely to blend in and then listen for foreign conversations.  As you look at the sweaters, they bump into you and lift your wallet. 

Being a victim is never fun.  Being an `experienced' victim is even worse.  Unfortunately, crime pays from a criminal's perspective.      

What can you do to keep the advantage on your side?  Stay alert.  When speaking in a language other than Bulgarian, speak softly so that others cannot overhear.  Do your best to blend in with your clothing styles and mannerisms.  If you carry a lot of money, do not flash it around.

It is not much, I know but it is all I have to offer ... unless of course you want the tyres to my van ....

Have you been the victim of crime here in Bulgaria?  Share your experience with other readers of the Sofia Echo.  Visit us at www.sofiaecho/forum. It helps to increase awareness by hearing other people's stories.  The best way to avoid being a victim is to be informed.