A vibrantly artistic heart, incredible food, better drink
and unforgettable nightlife make Barcelona one of Spain, and Europe’s, most
enticing cities. Unfortunately the Catalonian capital also bears
another, more dubious honour: Barcelona is routinely named the world’s
pickpocket capital.
Spain’s soaring unemployment rate, a wealth of tourist
wallets and scarce legal deterrent for petty crimes has created some kind of
larcenous perfect storm.
There’s no need to go and cancel your flights.
Sure, petty theft could almost number among Barcelona’s leading industries, but
the perpetrators are out for easy pickings which, after a few quick tips, won’t
be you. Violent crime is also very rare, so as long as you can keep a hand on
your wallet you have nothing to fear in Barcelona.
(A notorious crime hot spot in Barcelona)
Spotting a Pickpocket
The crooks often work in groups, preying on distracted and
disoriented tourists. One hand captures your attention while the other rifles
through your bag.
It might seem rude or culturally insensitive to question odd
or overly friendly behaviour from strangers while you’re travelling but this is
the attitude pickpockets rely on.
Of course you don’t want to be constantly wound up and
paranoid when you’re trying to relax. But, if you do feel suspicious, it’s easy
to brush your hand over your wallet, pull your bag closer or have a quick look
over your shoulder. Don’t be afraid to confront anyone following you either,
although there’s no need to get aggressive. If the thieves know you’re onto
them they’ll quickly skulk off to await an easier target.
Forewarned is forearmed so if you can recognise a dodgy
character or situation you’ll know when to crank up the defences and then you
can spend the rest of your holiday being pleasantly distracted.
The Flower Scam
One of the most popular traps involves a couple of
unassuming ladies offering you a flower. Don’t take it. The flower
is just an excuse for the women to get close and get into your pockets. If you
do take it, you’ll soon learn it wasn’t a gift. The women will demand money for
it, pestering you for some tiny amount. When you decide it’s worth un centavo to be rid of them, they will
kindly reach into your wallet to help you locate the right coin, simultaneously
clearing out all your notes.
Obviously letting a stranger put their hands in your wallet
isn’t a great idea but these sneaky couples can be very persistent. Even if you
don’t take the flower they may grab your hands, urging you to accept it, all
the while getting themselves closer to you and your valuables. The best
approach is not to acknowledge them at all, don’t slow down or stop. If you do
end up with a flower in your hand just drop it on the ground and continue on
your way. You might cop a few curses but at least you’ll keep you stuff.
The Pigeon Poo Scam
Another classic trick is for someone to spray paint or milk
onto your clothes. A kindly local will quickly approach to tell you about your
unfortunate accident and offer to help clean you up. The aim is for you to drop
what you’re carrying as you attend to the stain, or for your helpful friend to
get his hands into your pockets. If you do find yourself the target of this
messy method, politely but firmly refuse any assistance. Keep a tight hold on
your possessions and walk away quickly. You can clean yourself up later.
The Crowded Metro Scam
This trick involves a group of thieves who’ll push in front
of you as you try to get on or off a train. They create some delay at the door,
meaning their buddies, who’ve slipped in behind, have an excuse to bump into
you. They also work on a divide and conquer principle, trying to separate
potential victims from their travelling buddies. You should be alert whenever
you’re taking crowded public transport, but if you find someone try to squeeze
between you and your friends chances are your possessions are in jeopardy.
A variation of these techniques can happen at any bottleneck
or queue, like a shop entrance, bus line or escalator. The thieves will use any
means to hold you up, from dropping coins to having someone fall at your feet. If
you bend to help pick up the coins or the clumsy stranger you present your bag
and back pockets to the waiting cutpurse. It may seem cruel but don’t be afraid
to push past and get yourself out of danger.
The Clipboard Cover Scam
Someone holding a clipboard will approach you, asking you to
complete a survey of some sort. They’ll shove the sheet into you face, obscuring
your view and allowing them, or an accomplice to dip into your bag.
(The clipboard/paper/book scam is used all over the world)
Again, there are plenty of adaptations. People asking directions
hold up maps, nightclub promoters wave posters and scalpers flash phony tickets
in front of your eyes. They all serve the same sinister purpose, so don’t let
yourself be fooled.
The Devious Diners Scam
Other thieves roam the outdoor dining areas of Barcelona’s
many restaurants, looking for any unwatched bags or cameras. These crooks come
in all shapes and sizes. Some lone opportunists will just pick off whatever
they can find, others work in groups and have elaborate methods to distract
diners.
One story we’ve heard involves a raucous group of
well-dressed young girls sitting down at a table next to some travellers. They
made a lot of noise but didn’t order and soon they all stood up and left. The
waiter returned, saw they were gone and instantly told his unsuspecting patrons
to check their bags, which were all gone.
There are similar reports about beggars approaching tables
and insisting on a donation, even getting abusive. Anything to attract your
attention while an accomplice slips away with your stuff.
Don’t leave bags at your feet at restaurants and don’t put
your jacket over the back of the chair, especially not if there’s anything in
the pockets. It might be slightly uncomfortable but it’s best to keep your
things in your lap.
The Fake Policemen Scam
These guys are closer to conmen than pickpockets but the end
result is the same. It starts when someone pretending to be a fellow tourist
approaches and asks for directions or advice. Even if you just wave them off,
another group of men will then appear, flashing IDs and claiming to be
undercover police. They’ll say they’ve been tracking your newfound friend, on
drugs or terrorism charges or something equally intimidating, and that you’re
now a suspect by association.
Demanding identification of some sort, they’ll try and get
you to hand over your passport or wallet. They might just split with your
things or they might be subtler and try to pocket the cards and cash. Some
people have even reported being told to give up their PIN as the “cop” has a
phony conversation with HQ on the telephone to confirm their identity.
Don’t cave into these intimidation tactics. Don’t risk
provoking the gang but ask to have a closer look at their badges. Ask to walk to
the nearest police station before handing over any documentation. That should
be enough to put these scammers off.
Variations on a Theme
There are hundreds of variations on these popular
techniques, but they all boil down to one main element: misdirection.
Barcelona’s pickpockets are very fast and very skilled but they
are also very predictable. When know what cues to look for it should be easy to
spot and avoid crooks. If something feels a little amiss, it probably is.
Barcelona’s residents are very welcoming and helpful, but
they are also quite reserved, compared to southern Spaniards at least. They
will gladly offer you directions if you ask, but it’s unlikely they’ll try to
initiate a conversation out of the blue. They definitely won’t try to touch you.
Where They Strike
Pickpockets congregate around tourist hotspots, train
stations and bus depots. Obviously it would be difficult and indeed silly for
you to avoid these places completely, but it’s good to know when you really
need to be on your toes.
Las Ramblas is one of Barcelona’s big attractions, with
thousands of tourists and locals alike wandering, shopping, eating and soaking
up the atmosphere. However the boulevard is also notorious for thieves and
scammers. During the daytime don’t hang around watching the human statues
or street performers. Chances are they are working alongside pickpockets in the
crowd. Definitely don’t stop at any of the gaming tables, almost everyone here
is on the act.
The south end of Las Ramblas gets a little seedy at night,
with prostitutes and drug dealers aplenty. It’s probably best to avoid during
the wee hours of the morning, if at all possible.
Plaça Catalunya, at the northern end of Las Ramblas, is
another place to watch your wallet. To the south, beware in Barrio Gotico, one
of the city’s historic districts. Even during the day it’s easy to find
yourself isolated around a tight corner in the area’s narrow, winding streets.
The popularity of the Picasso Museum makes Carrer Montcada a
popular hangout for thieves. The same goes for Carrer de la Princesa and the
sidestreets near Mercat Santa Caterina.
It’s best to stick to the main roads when making your way to
or from Rambla Del Raval as well. Some of the streets near this popular
nightspot are a little dodgy.
Be especially careful when you’re arriving or departing the
city, as you’ll be carrying your entire luggage and might be a little stressed
or disoriented. Sants and França train stations, Estacio del Nord bus station
and the Cercanias Metro line, which goes out to the airport, are all prowled by
pickpockets.
The website www.robberymaps.com has been tracking the
locations of reported robberies in Barcelona since 2010 and can give you a
clear idea of any other dangerous spots.
Anti-crook Camouflage
Far better than foiling a crook’s pickpocket attempts is to
slip under their radar completely. If you have the look of a savvy traveller,
chances are they’ll ignore you and keep prowling for an easy target.
One of the first things that gives away a tourist is how
they’re dressed. If you make an effort to fit in with the local’s dress code
you are less likely to be targeted.
Barcelona’s style is relaxed but still quite smart. They’re
going for that fine balance between caring about your appearance and not
appearing as if you care about your appearance.
Obviously you shouldn’t rush out and buy a whole new set of
clothes but you probably shouldn’t stroll around in your favourite footy jersey
and thongs.
Brightly coloured clothes aren’t big in Barcelona and will
make you stick out like a sore thumb. Subdued, autumnal colours make up the
locals’ preferred palette.
Barcelona is a seaside town but there are two very different
dress codes for the beach and the city. There’s plenty on show at the shore but
don’t wear your board shorts and bikinis too far from the water.
Despite the declining influence of the Catholic Church,
Barcelona’s style is still quite conservative. Fitted clothes are fine but
female travellers should avoid overly revealing garments. Miniskirts and
low-cut tops will draw the attention of pickpockets, but also some disapproving
glares.
Jewellery is like a red rag to a bull for thieves. Don’t go
out dripping in gold or silver.
Bum bags are right out. Not only do they scream “I’m a
tourist, rob me,” but they’re very easy to rip or cut off.
Handbags with long straps are also easy for grab and run
thieves, who sometimes zoom by on bikes. Try to wear any bags across your body,
rather than just over the shoulder, making it more difficult to wrestle them
from you. At the very least, tie some knots in any long, thin straps to make
them a little shorter and stronger.
Evasive Manoeuvres
The way you behave is perhaps even more important than how
you dress in avoiding criminal attention. A really sharp eye will be able to
pick you as a tourist no matter how you’re dressed but you can still show
you’re no easy pickings.
Walk with purpose and try to look and try to avoid that lost
lamb look, even if you have no idea where you are. If your group has to look at
the map, try and find a shop, cafe or an alcove to do it in, rather than
standing around in a circle of confusion. Asking directions from a shopkeeper
or waiter actually often yields a clearer route than consulting your map.
Even if you are the victim of theft you should be able to
minimise your losses by keeping your most valuable items close to you. Don’t
keep any prized possessions in handbags or backpacks. Only take out as much
cash as you need that day, along with a photocopy of your passport. Keep the
rest and the real deal safely locked up at your accommodation.
Carry your wallet in your front pocket and try to get into
the habit of brushing your hand over it every so often. This will make you feel
more secure as well as letting any scoping pickpockets know you’re alert to
their presence.
Worst-case Scenario
If a pickpocket does manage to pull one over on you, don’t
panic. Don’t spend time trying to tracing your steps to track down the
perpetrator either. You can be sure they’ve either already vanished or passed
on your stuff.
It’s better to focus this frustrated energy into dealing
with the practicalities of the situation. Your first priority should be to
cancel your cards. Your bank should have a 24-hour emergency contact number for
this sort of situation. It’s wise to keep this written down somewhere. Cancelling
your phone account is also a priority, if you’re not using a prepaid service.
Getting a replacement passport and cancelling the old one is
integral if you’re planning on going home at any point. You can do this at your
consulate but you’ll to get a police report first.
You should report all robberies to the police. If you visit
one of the inner city police stations for this purpose you’re sure to run into
plenty of other cheated tourists. This might make you feel a little better
about falling victim, but the resulting lines can be frustrating.
There are a few ways to make this experience a little less
excruciating. Firstly, Barcelona’s police aren’t necessarily multi-lingual.
They should have no trouble guessing why you’re there but just in case, the
word for police report is denuncia.
Try and prepare all the details, serial numbers, passport number, distinctive
markings etc, of anything’s that has been stolen. Don’t waste time talking
about the photos that were on your camera, they would have been deleted almost
immediately.
Give a clear, concise explanation of theft and where it
occurred, or where you think it occurred.
In June 2011 the Hotel Association of Barcelona began
trialling a system in which tourists can make police reports from their
accommodation. It’s only currently available in a few hotels but if it works to
streamline the reporting process it could be widely available by the end of the
year.
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