It appears an attempted abduction of a local woman has taken place between Astorga and Rabanal. This is the third problem reported in the past few months. The first was actually a male pilgrim who was tazed and robbed as he went off the main Camino to take the alternative route to Castrillo de Polvares. The second was a German pilgrim (female) who was tazed in the same area. She managed to escape. Then Denise Thiem disappeared in the same section, and now a woman has escaped from two men again.
I've also read accounts of men flashing female pilgrims in this stretch going back to 2007. So it has a bit of a history.
I've always thought the Camino was perfectly safe, but until police catch these men, please consider walking with a group on remote stretches.
I would caution you to not use earphone in your ears, to walk with a buddy, and NOT to take the Castrillo de Polvazares stretch until these men have been caught.
No need to be paranoid.
Simply be aware.
Worrying too much about this event when you're anywhere else on the Camino would be like worrying about a kidnapping in Seattle, Washington when you are in Portland, Oregon.
It's one very short 12 mile section of a 500 mile-long Camino.
Be smart, use the buddy system in that section, and have a Buen Camino!
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