Latest news with #MartinBrown
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Daily Mail
'San Pedro Prowler' targeting Brits' homes on Costa del Sol as victims sleep: Terrifying video shows masked burglar stalking through properties
British expats in Spain have been warned to beef up their security systems after falling prey to a 'terrifying' burglar who remains at large. Chilling footage shows the moment a man in a mask and a grey hoodie breaks into a series of villas between San Pedro de Alcantara in Marbella and Benahavis, on the Costa del Sol. The brazen thief, dubbed the San Pedro Prowler, is seen picking locks with a sharp implement, which locals said he could use as 'a weapon if he needs it to be'. The menacing figure then calmly walks off with his hands filled with goods, including luxury handbags and jewellery. Among the recent stolen items include €10,000 in cash and a €30,000 watch. The robber appears to be wearing no shoes and just have socks on during his raids, seemingly to avoid alerting anyone inside the house to his presence. Neighbourhoods he has targeted include Guadalmina, and La Quinta, in upmarket Benahavis. The evidence has been collected by Martin Brown, originally from Scotland, who is well connected to the expat community as he runs a property management company. He told the Spanish Eye: 'I'm being sent a lot of images with what appears to be the same guy sporting a grey hoodie and a hanging mask. 'In several cases the victims were in the villa. He enters knowing there are cameras, knowing there are alarms... and knowing people are inside. 'He has no interest in TVs or such, just targets bags and watches from what we know.' Martin said that this week in San Pedro he stole €3,000 in cash and a luxury watch that was a family heirloom. He said: 'He seems to be able to open patio doors very easily, prising them up from the bottom. He can be in very quickly. 'In the case of a recent La Quinta robbery, the British couple were inside. 'He had been inside the house at around 6am and stolen a watch from the bedroom while the victim was asleep.' When Martin called the Policia Nacional, they told him that 'this is a job for the Guardia Civil.' When he called the Guardia Civil, they said he must call the Policia Nacional. The Guardia Civil polices more rural areas and smaller municipalities in Spain whereas the Policia Nacional is an armed civil force which deals with more serious crime. Martin said he ended up losing his temper over the confusion and told the police to be at the victim's house in the next 20 minutes. 'Two coppers did turn up and they were pleasant, but that is probably the first time I have had the cops turn up after a robbery,' he said. 'In a recent San Pedro robbery, they rang the police, who asked if the robber was still in the house, when they said 'no', they said just go to the police station in the morning. 'And this robber had just been inside their house, in their bedrooms… so that's the attitude of the police.' Martin advised any homeowner on the Costa del Sol to get centre locks on patio doors and install high-quality perimeter alarms, and to 'get a big dog.' Another expat living in Benahavis said that when her area was targeted, thieves 'always got in through the patio or terrace doors.' She advised that residents fit bolts 'that vertically go up and down into the frame so it's no longer possible to lift the patio doors from underneath.'
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GVG acquires Fleet Alliance, creating UK's largest B2B leasing broker
Global Vehicle Group (GVG) has announced the acquisition of Glasgow-based leasing broker and fleet management specialist Fleet Alliance, according to a press release issued by the company. The financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed. Fleet Alliance will join Global Vans, XLCR Vehicle Leasing, and the LCV Group under the GVG umbrella. Together, the combined group now represents the UK's largest and most diverse B2B leasing broker, offering full market coverage across cars and vans — from individual customers to fleets exceeding 1,000 vehicles. The press release states that the enlarged business will manage over 70,000 vehicles with annual volumes of around 18,000 units and a total funded value exceeding £2.5 billion. GVG confirmed that while the businesses will share resources and best practices, each will 'continue to operate independently with their own management teams and brand identities.' Andrew Hurst, CEO of Global Vehicle Group, said the addition of Fleet Alliance provides 'complete coverage of the B2B sector' and 'perfectly complements the existing group businesses.' He noted that while each company shares a strong team culture and a focus on customer experience, the group would also benefit from 'leveraging best practices and offering a wider range of products and services.' Martin Brown, Chair of Fleet Alliance, welcomed the acquisition, saying the company was 'delighted to become part of the Global Vehicle Group family' and looked forward to working alongside the other businesses 'as part of the largest B2B-focused leasing broker in the UK.' Founded in 2002, Global Vans is headquartered in Bristol, with offices in Hemel Hempstead and Cardiff. The group is led by CEO Andrew Hurst and co-founder Jon Lewis, with CFO Emma Thomas overseeing financial operations. GVG most recently expanded through the acquisition of XLCR Vehicle Management Ltd in December 2023. Founded in 2000, XLCR operates from Colne and Plymouth and is known for its proprietary tech and strong customer service focus. Its leaders, Lee Duerden and Shaun O'Neill, now serve as GVG's Chief Operating Officer and Group Chief Sales Officer, respectively. "GVG acquires Fleet Alliance, creating UK's largest B2B leasing broker" was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
