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A number of people holidaying in the Costa Blanca resort in Spain have been targeted in recent days by a common crime that could leave you seriously out of pocket

Brits jetting off to Benidorm to escape the autumn chill have been urged to keep their wits about them due to a common crime that could put a damper on their holiday and leave them out of pocket.

Michelle Baker, who has resided in the popular tourist destination for over four decades and once ran a local newspaper for 20 years, now keeps Brits up-to-date via her Facebook group, Benidormforever.

Her most recent post was a “serious” warning, beginning with the words “Look out… there’s a thief about!”

She went on to detail concerns that have cropped up recently, stating: “The happy holiday vibe coupled with the warm weather – and a couple of cocktails – can often make us less vigilant and I don’t want to be a party pooper but several people have contacted me in the last two days to tell me they’ve been pickpocketed…

“All were in the Old Town (generally considered the safest area of Benidrom) and none felt a thing.

“Benidorm is a statistically safe place but crowds anywhere in the world attract pickpockets, and sadly Benidorm is no different.”

In terms of advice, she wrapped up by saying: “You know the drill; Keep your valuables out of sight; don’t carry your passport with you (unless you’re going to change money), don’t leave phones on the table, and beware of strangers getting too close, asking questions or bumping into you…

“Spread the word; stay vigilant and stay together for a happy holiday folks.”

Responding to the post, one individual commented: “Always zips and keep everything in the front pockets. Benidorm gets bad reviews for this but go to London Oxford Street exactly the same.”

Another shared: “We were targeted not far from the royal last week. Hubby’s wallet taken from buttoned short pocket. Didn’t feel a thing, first time in 35 years visiting.”

One user remarked: “A young man on (scooter emoji) tried to steal my phone from my bag late at night, but fortunately although I had consumed plenty of gin I still had my sensible head on and stopped him. That was old town.”

A fourth person noted: “Visited in April, friends zipped up bag was dipped and her purse was taken. The pickpockets walked right in front of us, broad daylight, been visiting years, it is getting worse, a zip will not stop these low lifes.”

Another added: “Thank you am coming in November we’ll take what you said on board.”

Earlier in the summer, Michelle disclosed that she herself nearly fell prey after an “agitated young individual” approached to say he had lost his friends and couldn’t remember where he was staying.

The con involved the person suggesting that they vaguely knew where it was and that you could assist by opening Google Maps for them before they grabbed the device and legged it.

Michelle continued: “I was lucky; I didn’t get my phone out I simply told the chap who stopped me where his hotel was… but my friends weren’t so lucky and are absolutely gutted to have fallen for this.”

The Foreign Office has issued a warning to Brits, stating: “Be alert to the risk of street crime. Thieves use distraction techniques and often work in teams. Take care of your passports, money and personal belongings, particularly when collecting or checking in luggage at the airport, and while arranging car hire.

“Do not carry all your valuables in one place. Keep a copy of the photo page of your passport somewhere safe. Make sure your accommodation has adequate security. Keep all doors and windows locked. If you’re concerned about the security of your accommodation, speak to your travel operator or the property owner.”

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — It was an ominous bit of imagery at what could be the bitter end of a century-long series. Dark clouds descending over Touchdown Jesus, and a heavy downpour soaking every soul in Notre Dame Stadium, as if Mother Nature herself was lashing out at the prospect of one of college football’s defining rivalries dying in vain.

Both USC and Notre Dame have suggested they want the rivalry to continue if they can come to an agreement in the coming months. But if this was indeed the end, 99 years since USC and Notre Dame first met on a football field, it would be a particularly crushing finale for the Trojans, who fell 34-24 and now find their hopes of a College Football Playoff bid hanging by a thread.

Saturday seemed well on its way to a different sort of conclusion, when the Irish shanked a 31-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Three plays later, USC quarterback Jayden Maiava found wideout Makai Lemon downfield for a 42-yard gain.

All the game’s momentum was suddenly in the hands of USC coach Lincoln Riley and his offense. That’s when Riley dialed up a hair-brained trick play that he’d surely regret later.

Sprinting right on an end-around, Lemon took the handoff from Maiava and immediately found himself trapped by the Notre Dame defense. Lemon cocked the ball as if he were going to throw, only to have the ball stripped away.

It was a rare misstep from the Trojans star, but an especially costly one. It took seven plays for Notre Dame to find the end zone after that, as quarterback C.J. Carr punched it in from one yard out to put the game away.

Kyren Williams did not know if the questions would come, but if they did he was prepared.

The Rams running back was less than a week removed from fumbling at the one-yard line during a 26-23 overtime defeat by the San Francisco 49ers.

Now he is in Pacific Palisades, preparing to work with youth flag football players practicing for the first time since last January’s wildfires.

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Gary Klein breaks down what to expect from the Rams as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday before flying to London ahead of their Week 7 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“If they ask me, ‘Man, why did you fumble?’” Williams said, raising the pitch of voice to resemble a child’s, “I’m going to tell them exactly why it happens — because it happens.

“They’re wondering more than anything. They’re not trying to knock you down. So for me, tell them how it was, be accountable. Be honest about it and tell them, ‘Man, mistakes happen. … I’m going to grow from this mistake and it’s not going to define who I am.’”

Williams, 25, is eager to get back onto the field on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens and show that he has moved on from his mistake.

The third-year pro, who received a $23-million extension before the season, is an integral part of an offense that features quarterback Matthew Stafford, the NFL’s leading passer, and receiver Puka Nacua, the league’s leading receiver.

Williams has rushed for 368 yards and a touchdown. He has 16 catches for 118 yards and three touchdowns.

In three-plus regular seasons and three playoff games, Williams has touched the ball as a running back or receiver 805 times. He has fumbled 11 times.

Williams was not the only running back to fumble against the 49ers. Backup Blake Corum dropped the ball on a pitch play.

But Williams’ miscue came at a more dramatic moment.

The Rams were trailing 23-20 when Stafford drove them to the three-yard line with just more than one minute left in the game. Williams took a handoff and plowed toward the goal line, but the 49ers knocked the ball from his grip and recovered the fumble.

Rams running back Kyren Williams, center, loses the ball on a fumble late in the fourth quarter against the 49ers on Oct. 2.

(Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press)

Williams also was stopped on a fourth-and-one play at the 11-yard line in overtime to end the game.

Afterward, he blamed himself for the fumble that he said cost the Rams the victory. The feeling lingered into the next week.

“Throughout the game, I had great ball security,” Williams said. “The one time that I saw pay dirt, I saw green, and I let up and I saw what happened.

“So for me the lesson I learned throughout the situation is, man, you can’t be comfortable until all double zeroes are on that clock.”

Coach Sean McVay said the Rams would take steps to improve ball security. But he stood by Williams.

“Love that guy.” McVay said. “I’m riding with him, and we have to figure out a way to improve, and he’ll be the first to take accountability, which is why you want to put your arm around him and be right there with him.”

As Williams moves forward, he anticipates sharing lessons learned from the situation during his charitable work.

Rams running back Kyren Williams instructs young flag football players in Pacific Palisades on Oct. 7.

(Gary Klein / Los Angeles Times)

Last Monday, Williams met with Molly Higgins, the Rams executive vice president of community impact and engagement, and told her that he wanted to commit to an event or an opportunity every Tuesday of the season.

“After a tough game on Thursday night, for him to want to sit down on Monday, I was fully prepared to say, ‘Hey, we can take a beat,’” Higgins said. “But he was like, ‘No, I want to sit down.”

Said Williams: “I know how when I was little, seeing people who I wanted to be like, how I was inspired and impacted and motivated. … So for me it’s remembering who I was and kind of trying to go above and beyond.”

Williams plans to do the same on the field when the Rams attempt to bounce back against the Ravens.

The fumble against the 49ers will not define him.

“I’m not happy that it happened the way that it did,” he said. “But I’m able to grow from the situation. I’m able to overcome it and show people that like, man, I’m so much better than what I put out there.

“So I can’t wait.”

RIVAL plans for the multi-billion pound expansion of London Heathrow Airport have been revealed – with a much shorter third runway.

Surinder Arora – behind the Arora Group who are a major landowner of Heathrow – submitted his own designs for the massive airport upgrade.

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Called ‘Heathrow West,’ the £25billion plans are being developed with infrastructure company Bechtel, who were also behind major projects such as the Elizabeth Line, Channel Tunnel and expansions of both London City and London Gatwick.

The biggest change to the addition of the third runway would be making it much smaller – being just 2,800 metres rather than 3,500.

Being smaller, it would mean the airport would not need to divert the M25 under the current plans, which will cost billions and result in traffic chaos.

The new runway could be operational as soon as 2035.

The rival plans also include a new terminal – dubbed T6 – which would open in a first phase by 2036, will a full opening by 2040.

Mr Arora – who also owns Heathrow hotels such as Sofitel, Crowne Plaza and Hilton Garden Inn – said: “I am proud to unveil the Heathrow West proposal which meets the UK’s ambition to grow its only hub airport while delivering on time and on budget.

“The Government’s decision to invite competition rather than hand exclusivity to the incumbent is common sense – and we’re ready to deliver.”

He added: “The Arora Group has a proven track record of delivering on-time and on-budget projects including in and around Heathrow airport.”

With estimated costs of £25billion, this is much cheaper than what is expected of London Heathrow’s plans.

The last estimate from Heathrow was in 2014, with a cost of £14million – although experts have said this could be closer to £47.5billion in today’s prices.

London Heathrow invited rival plans last month, with a deadline of July 31.

The airport is set to submit their own plans later today.

The addition of a third runway was backed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves earlier this year.

However, Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan raised concerns, to do with the local environment.

There are also fears of more expensive flights with the new runway, with the airport asking for the landing fees to be increased to cover the costs.

Currently set at £23.73, this will drop by 2p next year, with the fee passed on from airline to passenger.

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However, easyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis backed the plans, and even suggested they could launch from their.

He previously said: “When it comes to Heathrow, I’ve always thought Heathrow would fit our network of primary airports with great catchment areas.

“It would be a unique opportunity to operate from Heathrow at scale – because obviously right now it’s slot-constrained – and give us an opportunity to provide lower fares for UK consumers that currently at Heathrow just have the option of flag carriers.

“It fits with our network, we’re present at all the other major European airports like Schiphol, Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Geneva.”

In the mean time, here are some other airports undergoing major expansions including London Stansted Airport, costing £1.1billion with a £600million new terminal.

Manchester Airport is undergoing a £1.3billion renovation.

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Fiji: Rayasi, Ravouvou, Maqala, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Muntz, Kuruvoli; Mawi, Ikanivere (c), Doge, Nasilasila, Mayanavanua, Tagitagivalu, Canakaivata, Mata.

Replacements: Matavesi, Hetet, Tawake, Vocevoce, Tuisue, Wye, Armstrong-Ravula, Botitu.

Scotland: Rowe, Graham, Redpath, Jordan, Steyn; Burke, Dobie; Sutherland, Ashman, Millar Mills, Sykes, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Darge (c), M Fagerson.

Replacements: Turner, Hepburn, Hurd, Williamson, Bayliss, Horne, Hastings, Smith.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)