Pickpockets in Barcelona

[justin23]

My worst city for pickpocketing was Buenos Aires. All three times on the subway, the first time was the only time they'd have got something but failed. They all involved some kind of distraction, like pushing and shoving in a tight train, yelling loudly etc.
After the first attempt, a lady who spoke english suggested I check my pockets because those people were trying to rob me.... The locals though seem reluctant to get involved especially if it might mean calling the police.
As for blending in like a local, I think this gets said a lot, but foreigners will always stand out. But it helps to not flash anything of value around and to not be the easiest target. As a tall pale skinned male, I tend to stand out regardless, but I'm also big enough that people don't tend to take the risk that I catch them

 

[PineappleSkip]

Could happen anywhere, 40 years ago as a teen I Got my wallet -with ticket- and camera stolen out of my bag on the then 'South Mail' train between cootamundra and Junee. Only further problem was being detained by railway police at Central on the way back for travelling without a ticket. Didn't repeat that mistake, vigilant ever after. In Oz as well

cheers skip.

 

[cssaus]

I can thoroughly recommend the pick-pocket-proof pants from Clothing Arts .

 

[OZDUCK]

Well on Saturday after 18 years of travelling with no issues I had all my money and credit and debit cards stolen while in Mongolia. It happened about 3 hours before I was due to head to the airport and for the whole trip I had been keeping a separate wallet back at the hotel with most of my money and cards but this day I had out both of them in my back pack as didn’t want to leave my other wallet in the hotel baggage room. I was super lucky that they didn’t also take my passport or camera that was inside the same backpack but they were so good and quick I don’t even know where exactly it happened just know it happened within about a 20 min period from when I last used to it when I noticed it was missing.

Luckily it was towards the end of my trip. My Dad was able to send me some cash via western union to Seoul as I was there for a couple of days before heading home to Australia.

The police wouldn’t take a statement / report of the incident before my flight as they said they couldn’t do it until Monday so just hoping I can get the missing cash back from travel insurance.

Sorry to hear this. I hope everything works out.

 

[egoode]

Sorry to hear this. I hope everything works out.

Thanks I keep telling myself worse things could have happened to me and obviously I won’t make the same mistake again!

 

[veraj]

A VERY clever Scam in Chile
Here is what happened. We were in Chile for about 10 days and we had hired a car to see a bit of the country. As we had things stolen from a rental car in France about 15 years ago, we were concerned not to leave anything in a hire car that advertised that it was a hired car. This one had a sticker that advertised the car hire place. So maybe we were a target for this scam.


We were travelling through a tourist town, when a car alerted us that we had a flat tyre.( we had just become aware of the ‘flat tyre noise”

We stopped, thanked the driver and my partner commenced finding the tools for fixing the flat. The other drivers, also parked the car and one of them got out to help. There wasn’t much he could do as he soon realised that my partner was super competent and commenced to help me put out warning signs as the road was very narrow.

He soon left realising that there was little he could do to help.

my partner finished fixing the tyre and we drove a bit further to the beach, where we parked. It was then that I realised that my hand-bag was missing .

we then set out to get the tyre fixed and discovered that the tyres had been DELIBERATELY Slashed(probably while we were stopped at traffic light.
Luckily the credit cards companies were on the ball- and only $200 needed to be reimbursed
I guess while we were distracted with the flat-they managed to steal my bag somehow from the front of the car.
I remember distinctly the last traffic light before the flat, there was a man doing magic tricks at the light- this was probably a distraction- but only I noticed the magician, the tyre that was punctured was the back one on the drivers side.
Lesson to be learned: if anything out of the usual happens while travelling remain ALERT

 

[Myrna]

Barcelona always has a really bad reputation for pickpocketers. Two years ago we visited Barcelona and an Australian friend living in Girona. Friend has lived in Spain for many years, the first thing he said to us was to be very careful of pickpocketers in Barcelona! Like the old saying, travel broadens the mind and lightens the wallet … No matter how careful we are when we travel around the world, from time to time we let our guards down and the vultures swoop.

 

[higheden]

We were in Switzerland in June and waiting to board a train when a very pleasant middle aged, nicely dressed male arrived on the platform near us. When we entered the train, he suddenly seemed to be all over us, over our shoulders, under our arms, supposedly helping us lift our bags on to the train racks. My partner commented when we were sitting what a nuisance the man had been. I noticed him further up the carriage and next time I looked he’d disappeared. Soon after the train departed the female ticket collector came round, she picked up a wallet off the ground and asked if it was ours!
All the credit cards were there but the cash was gone! $600 in NZD, USD, Swizz Francs and Euros. After that we split cash and cards between us, in different backpacks, suitcases etc; When in crowds my partner walked with hands in pockets. Lesson learnt! We did 16 countries that trip, no pick pocketed got another chance.
When we were in the Cinque Terra’s, our guide pointed out the groups of young teenage girls dressed in modern clothing, looking just like a group of young teens hanging out, going somewhere and said they were in fact trained pickpocketers. She said, if the police pick them up, they are usually pregnant and therefore can not be charged.

 

[J_seeker]

It's been the same since I first went back to Europe in early 90's. Police arrive and scammers/pickpockets run off but then back again when police gone. You'd think an undercover operation would catch them but that may not be in the best interests of the police.

Luckily I've managed to avoid thieves apart from some minor incidents. I keep saying I'll have a travel wallet with just a copy of the passport and some money when I'm travelling but always seem to need something from my everyday wallet.

Pleased to be able to report Barcelona Police are making an effort (10 days ago). They had an undercover 'squad' working near the popular Cathedral site. I saw them take down two pickpockets, uniformed backup arrived and they less than discretely retrieved a number of stolen wallets from these guys. They had them on the ground just to the side a cafe! No-one seemed to bat an eyelid.

 

[Deleted member]

I hate to admit it but I probably deserved to have my wallet taken. This trip has been fraut with problems since about 4 weeks before we left.Today, in Zaragoza, we were walking alongside the river and sat on a bench to have a drink. About 400 metres later I decided to take a photo and realised I had either dropped or left my camera by the bench. We rushed back but alas it was not there. Luckily I had copied most of the photos on the memory card and only lost a few days of shots, many of which my wife had had also taken with her - better - camera.

You just can't protect stupid people from themselves And I seem to be falling into that category of late.

We have Travel Insurance but it was a 5 1/2 yr old camera so any payout would be low - plus it had dings & scrapes and the lenses cover was sticking. I will move onto a new camera and give myself a metaphorical clip over the ear.

Fraught or not. It is a sad indictment that in many countries, just forgetting to pick up an item is going to mean it will be taken by another person. I lost my rather expensive sunglasses in Australia (in a 5 star hotel) when I put them down to wash my hands in the men’s room and exited without picking them up. Did they get handed in ? Nope! I felt more upset about losing them than having them targeted by a thief.

 

[Jacques Vert]

A VERY clever Scam in Chile
Here is what happened. We were in Chile for about 10 days and we had hired a car to see a bit of the country. As we had things stolen from a rental car in France about 15 years ago, we were concerned not to leave anything in a hire car that advertised that it was a hired car. This one had a sticker that advertised the car hire place. So maybe we were a target for this scam.


We were travelling through a tourist town, when a car alerted us that we had a flat tyre.( we had just become aware of the ‘flat tyre noise”

We stopped, thanked the driver and my partner commenced finding the tools for fixing the flat. The other drivers, also parked the car and one of them got out to help. There wasn’t much he could do as he soon realised that my partner was super competent and commenced to help me put out warning signs as the road was very narrow.

He soon left realising that there was little he could do to help.

my partner finished fixing the tyre and we drove a bit further to the beach, where we parked. It was then that I realised that my hand-bag was missing .

we then set out to get the tyre fixed and discovered that the tyres had been DELIBERATELY Slashed(probably while we were stopped at traffic light.
Luckily the credit cards companies were on the ball- and only $200 needed to be reimbursed
I guess while we were distracted with the flat-they managed to steal my bag somehow from the front of the car.
I remember distinctly the last traffic light before the flat, there was a man doing magic tricks at the light- this was probably a distraction- but only I noticed the magician, the tyre that was punctured was the back one on the drivers side.
Lesson to be learned: if anything out of the usual happens while travelling remain ALERT

This one has been around in Europe for decades. You were lucky it was only your handbag.

Often they help you get the luggage out of the boot so you can get to the tools/spare tyre, then throw it in their vehicle and take off with everything while you are distracted.

 

[Renato1]

I've watched pickpockets targeting people in lots of places like Madrid and Rome. Very easy to do while having a cappuccino in the street. And they are fairly easy to spot on trains and buses too.

So if inexperienced people like my wife and I can spot them, why can't undercover cops nab them?

My solution is simple - just stay away from the places where the police and judiciary couldn't care less about pickpockets robbing tourists. Instead travel to places where police have or are tackling the problem.

It makes for a nicer vacation. I'm never going back to Rome, Naples and Madrid, and will never go to Barcelona.
Regards,
Renato

 

[ALH]

Beware of other “tourists”. The guy who robbed me in Barcelona was dressed as a toursist and asked my travelling companion for directions. After that I decided not to let someone else watch my stuff while I paid for coffee.

The other near miss was Pisa train station. 4 young girls pushing & shoving past us while we tried to board as the train was starting to move. After shouting at them, they disappeared very quickly. Once we sat down we realised 3 out of the 4 bags were unzipped!

 

[akmacca]

I consider myself an experienced and wary world traveller but I recently fell foul to a pickpocket in Lisbon.

After a long day of sightseeing, we waited and waited for the small yellow tram that would take us back to our accommodation. For some reason, the tram was late arriving and when it did the tram was packed. We climbed aboard packed together like the proverbial sardines.

My wife had found a seat and I was standing in front of her. I had long pants on and my wallet was in a front cargo pocket with a velcro tab securing the pocket. I had noticed the person standing close by my side ( I have no idea if it was a male or female) was wearing a long trench coat and several times I thought that they were getting close and touching my leg. I reached down and my wallet was still there.

If you have ever taken this train you will know that it is a bumpy ride going up a steep incline.

Once more I felt something graze my leg and just as I reached down to check we bounced around a corner and off balance I grabbed onto a railing to steady myself. My wife then mentioned something to me and we had a brief conversation and I forgot all about my wallet.

We alighted from the tram relieved to be out in the fresh air and then went to the local shop to buy something for dinner. When I went to pay I reached for my wallet and of course, it wasn't there. I immediately knew I had been pickpocketed and what a terrible feeling it was.

My wife through choice rarely carries money nor does she have any credit cards. Between us, we had a couple of euro. We went straight back to the accommodation and I called my credit card providers to cancel the cards. I was in such a panic to call them I used my phone without calling through skype or some other cheaper means. The cards were cancelled within the hour our next problem was how to get to the airport in the morning.

Our saving grace was that we both had See Lisbon cards which allowed us free public transport. We were able to catch the earliest bus to the airport and board our flight back to Krakow. Of course, it isn't only the money that was taken but later on, I was hit with a telephone bill of $140 for making the calls to credit card providers. I had to replace my driver's license which was another $75 plus the loss of a few other keepsakes and odds and ends I had in my wallet.

So the pain went on for a while as did my self-recriminations for being such an idiot. I should also note that on board the tram were signs stating beware of pickpockets obviously I didn't take heed. As a side note American Express had a replacement card to me in Poland within 48 hours which was great service.

 

[coriander]

I consider myself an experienced and wary world traveller but I recently fell foul to a pickpocket in Lisbon.

The route 28 tram is notorious for pickpockets. When I was in Lisbon just tramming around, I'd put my wallet (a Belroy note sleeve so very compact) in my sock! and always wore long trousers. Though I was amazed to see the number of tourists with large mobile phones (S8+ and/or Note) poking out the top of their rear pockets.
I place my mobile phone in my front trouser pocket horizontally so it was tightly jammed in.
I also NEVER wear pants with vertical front pocket openings. (Must look at Clothing Arts more closely as well).

 

[craven morehead]

I hate to admit it but I probably deserved to have my wallet taken. This trip has been fraut with problems since about 4 weeks before we left.Today, in Zaragoza, we were walking alongside the river and sat on a bench to have a drink. About 400 metres later I decided to take a photo and realised I had either dropped or left my camera by the bench. We rushed back but alas it was not there. Luckily I had copied most of the photos on the memory card and only lost a few days of shots, many of which my wife had had also taken with her - better - camera.

You just can't protect stupid people from themselves And I seem to be falling into that category of late.

We have Travel Insurance but it was a 5 1/2 yr old camera so any payout would be low - plus it had dings & scrapes and the lenses cover was sticking. I will move onto a new camera and give myself a metaphorical clip over the ear.

Bugger !

 

[Meggsy]

Have just returned from a wonderful 6 weeks of travel through Spain, Portugal and Italy. A friend travelling with us was pickpocketed exiting the rail station in Madrid and then had some cash and personal items stolen from his luggage in his hotel room a week later. Silly mistake not using the room safe but, as he said, he was tired and just didn't think about it.
I had a run in with a pickpocket on the train from Naples to Pompeii. Train was jam packed and two men boarded in front of me. After a few stations one of them backed into me quite forcibly. I gave him a gob full but as I was doing so I felt a hand in my pocket, which I grabbed and gave an almighty squeeze. Turned out to be the other of the two and apparently they were well known as a local told me they are on there quite frequently.
We also had a very determined young man who wouldn't take no for an answer trying to help with our luggage boarding the train in Venice. I told him to P off in no uncertain terms only to find my friend then accepted his help. Thankfully the train guard noticed and yelled something to him and he dropped the bags and ran off. Nothing lost in either encounter but you have to be on guard at all times.
We deliberately went to Las Ramblas in Barcelona to see if we could spot any but no luck.

 

[Isochronous]

This is why I only visit Rome, Barcelona etc in winter so the weather permits me to wear a jacket and use the inside pockets for my wallet and phone.

 

[ellen10]

We were in Split, and I had previously warned my husband about keeping his wallet in his back shorts pocket so he had moved it to his "secure" front cargo shorts pocket. The husband and friend were walking in a crowded lane, husband in front and friend behind. A well dressed young woman walked beside my husband, his friend noticed her going for his pocket in his cargo shorts, but was pulled back by his backpack before he could alert him, by her lady companion. Fortunately my husband felt the girl grabbing his wallet and grabbed her hand and yelled at her. The girls quickly took off.

From then on he was much more responsive to my nagging about his casual regard for his possessions and no longer wears his wallet in his back pocket overseas!