Overview

• The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has advised motorists to avoid pulling over for strangers and to only stop in public, well-lit service areas.
• New warning signs from Barcelona to Alicante signal that thieves are staging fake breakdowns to flag down and rob passing vehicles.
• Scammers target foreign-registered and hire cars, especially those towing caravans, by distracting drivers before stealing valuables.
• Harry Poulton’s TikTok video has drawn over 12,500 views and driven broader awareness of the motorway robbery threat.
• Travellers are instructed to identify legitimate police by 'Policia' or 'Guardia Civil' markings and to refuse any requests for bags or wallets.