Morzine thefts
Racerfozzy
Posts: 18
Howdy folks, just a quick heads-up to anyone heading out to Morzine;
I had my bike box stolen from our ski locker and the bike shops were reporting up-to 70 DH bikes stolen from lock-ups and ski lockers in and around Morzine in the previous week. Really high spec xc bikes were being left in favour of any DH bike... :x
The local Gendarnmes are completey 'non-plus' and really couldn't be bothered, I guess it's somebody elses problem by the end of the week when we all go home but you will have trouble claiming insurance without a police report. :x
My advice is to try and hide the bikes from view anytime you're near where they are being stored, our appts had a door code entry but they still got in. I guess they don't change the code very often...
Oh and anybody travelling out of Manchester, make sure you've got the bike well padded, we managed to get through Swiss and French handling and a week on the Pleney with out any damage until the Manchester neanderthals got their destructive mitts on 'em; All the bags in our party of three were torn and 2 had bent disks and skewers.. despite being properly packed and properly padded.. :x
Have fun! And maybe choose one of the other resorts in Portes du Soliel
I had my bike box stolen from our ski locker and the bike shops were reporting up-to 70 DH bikes stolen from lock-ups and ski lockers in and around Morzine in the previous week. Really high spec xc bikes were being left in favour of any DH bike... :x
The local Gendarnmes are completey 'non-plus' and really couldn't be bothered, I guess it's somebody elses problem by the end of the week when we all go home but you will have trouble claiming insurance without a police report. :x
My advice is to try and hide the bikes from view anytime you're near where they are being stored, our appts had a door code entry but they still got in. I guess they don't change the code very often...
Oh and anybody travelling out of Manchester, make sure you've got the bike well padded, we managed to get through Swiss and French handling and a week on the Pleney with out any damage until the Manchester neanderthals got their destructive mitts on 'em; All the bags in our party of three were torn and 2 had bent disks and skewers.. despite being properly packed and properly padded.. :x
Have fun! And maybe choose one of the other resorts in Portes du Soliel
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Comments
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The hotel we stayed at was busy, so they asked if we wouldn't mind carrying our bikes upstairs and keeping them on our balcony.
We grumbled a wee bit at first, but after reading your post it would appear that balconies are the new bike lockers.0 -
was out there two weeks ago and heard of whole hotels beings emptied in one go of DH bikes. One lot, group of 15 english guys on a DHing holiday together had their bikes in the garage whilst they had an outdoor dinner. had left the bikes for 30 mins or so and they had all gone. apparently its an organised gang who are driving round in a transit type van and just loading up and pi55ing off with the lot! for any help with the Gendarmes you need to go in with the serial number at least of they won't give a shit!0
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For more information on this....
There have been a lot of break ins this year in morzine. It also appears that there was a problem with the Gendarmes appearing disinterested / unhelpful to tourists with stolen bikes. This issue has now been addressed locally.
Comments and details on break ins were collected from all chalet companies / hotels etc and there was a meeting with the Mairie and the Gendarmes. This has resulted in a debriefing session to the gendarmes on dealing with thefts. So hopefully the reporting issues should be resolved.
It is also true that they are looking for proof of ownership as there have been problems in the past with false claims.
And further feedback on what to have with you in case your bike is stolen:
"The gendarmes essentially need to have as many details as possible, because their main purpose is to try to find the bikes or whatever and in case they arrest the robbers they are able to link it with a stolen bike, etc , so as to match it up. Most of the time what they have got is “I’ve lost my bike, phone, whatever” with no description at all (color, size, shape, brand, value,……). Hence the insurance scam issue.
2 scenarios :
If it’s a rented bike: they need a paper from the bike shop describing the bike.
If, It’s their own property : then I’ll suggest that in addition to all people that came to Morzine or residents come armed with a copy of the bill that includes the description of their bikes. It’s not very complicated and it will help to sort out the problem.
Any photos of the bike or any other stolen goods would be very useful to the Gendarmerie as an alternative. I lost my receipts years ago.
They were giving me the example of mobile phones with which you now need to have the IMEI number to claim from insurance. "
Hope that helps a little. The bottom line is the Gendarmes are aware of this problem and are trying to address is so it does not continue to be one. They are bothered and do want to solve it. Most important is to be security conscious in the first place - while there are locked garages broken into, a lot of these bikes were not properly locked/secured. Make sure your bikes are stored in a locked garage, if possible with an alarm or extra lock inside too.0
