Street crime, Lisbon

There are more and more skilled Gypsies in Lisbon now. There´s even Gypsy Mafias. The more hostile, mafia linked professional gypsies that work in groups work on trams (especially Trams 15 and 27, the one to the castle...or was it 24...one of those). BE AWARE of a pack of people that get on the tram last minute (they usually get on overcrowded trams or metros). usually, the men or boys will make a distracting scene, push through the crowded people, shoving and touching everyone (stealing and picking pockets), as the girls or old women stay up by the driver area, leaning close into people. I had one girl shove her hand into my purse (I felt THAT) as another one unzipped my jacket pocket (I don´t know how I didnt feel that) and take money out, zipping my jacket back up, so I only focus on my purse (where nothing was missing). I didn´t realize I was missing money until later.

CRUISE SHIP TOURISTS especially, BEWARE: As a huge mass of tourist get off the cruise ships (typically by the main square; I forgot the name, but it´s by the ocean and close to the suspensions bride. Huge open space), there are gypsies spread out, some dressed as tourists, some "pregnant" women gypsies, and gypsies with a coat or some sort draped over their forearm (so you don´t see them stealing) waiting to get between the crowds of tourists to pick pocket.

Don´t keep any valuables or cash in your purse or jackets. Keep you purse tightly tucked under your arm or under the layer of your clothes. Keep your passports and other valuables locked in a safe in your hotel room. Don´t keep anything in your pockets (unless you want to fool these terrible gypsies with fake monopoly money or something), Keep your eyes on anyone that you dont recognize or looks like a gypsy (or looks suspicious) and be aware of everything around you.

You also dont need to give money to beggers, children beggers, street sales people that hassle you, beggers with dogs, etc for they´re usually all the same gypsy community (gypsies are usually Romanian, if that helps). Don´t feel bad. They´re trained to take money from tourists in any way possible. They will even beat each other up to look more impaired for sympathy change. Remember, these are professionals.

If you do get pick pocketed, file a report at the Tourist Police station and give a full description of the gypsies that you encountered. The police only returns personal belongings and not money.

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We parked outside the Museum of Tiles in Lisbon, adjacent to a public bus station on this well traveled street, thinking (mistakenly as it turns out), that it was a safe place.
When we returned to our car after our visit to the museum it had been broken into, the rear side window broken and one of our backpacks stolen.
Having problems with the language we called our friends Carlos and Gloria. Carlos helped us over the phone with the authorities and then later came to our hotel to meet us and see if we needed anything else, THANKS CARLOS, you were a fantastic help.
BE CAREFUL where you park in Lisbon, after we had the car and stolen items appraised and all the police forms filled out the kind tourist policeman who helped us informed us that this was an almost everyday occurence.

I recently visited Lisbon. I was walking with my husband and son along the main shopping street (near to United Colors of Bennetton) and turned to find a woman (one of three) with her arm inside my rucksack. I turned around in reaction slapped her on the arm. She pulled it out at once. She was with two other woman. They were small and dressed in what I can only call a "gypsy" style. I got the feeling that they were not Portugese. not sure which language they were speaking but she tried to speak German (badly) to me to deny her crime until they realise that I was English. They could only speak a few words of English. The other two stood behind her talking to her saying I was crazy. They disappear very quickly soon after and in the opposite direction to the one we had all been walking in . As there were no witnesses and no police to be see there was nothing I could do. At least she didn't not get my camera. I had no purse in my bag. BEWARE Lisbon is a hot bed for attacks on tourists.

A friend visiting Lisbon last year had her bag slashed in the same area.

Be very careful when travelling the ferry and/or train from Lisbon to the islands directly accross the harbour. DO NOT wear any jewlery, keep your laptops, cameras and cellular phones in the hotel safe. They begin with travelling the trains, find a target and then continue to follow you on to the ferry. They communicate with one another by texting as they check you up and down to see what may or may not interest them, or may ask you a question to see if you are a tourist (trying to find out what language you speak). You may reply and be in danger or, you may ignore, I suggest you ignore. We were followed from the train onto the ferry and on to the streets of Lisbon, no police officers or security in sight. Lucky for us, a taxi stopped at the end of the street, we jumped in and asked to be taken to the hotel. The sad part is that the gang members make it very obvious that they were ready to attack, they truly were stupid making so obviously that they wanted something from us (fyi, they were male and female Portugeese and Brazilians). Be alert and check your sourroundings!

Beware, eating outside in restaurants, particularly the tourist areas. Gangs of ''professional' thieves roam AND may be getting inside information (from either waitors or roaming buskers) on seating positions and potential targets. It certainly appeared to be common as indicated by the queue of 'victims' at the tourist police station all reporting similar incidents. One instance occured on a tram and another happened in front of us whilst dining although no-one saw the actual thief/team. My wife had her handbag pinched (amongst a group of eight friends)and its an annoying thing to happen. Use the hotel safe for everything, but try to avoid taking a handbag at all but also be aware of pickpockets. Its rife, and we will not go back to Portugal again, although the police were helpful in the incident report, i dont expect a happy ending.

Be careful - tram 28 through Alfama is full of pickpockets!
I watched three of them cooperating: number one snatching the wallet of a passenger, number 2 watching his colleague and signalling the fast success to number 3, who drove a car immediately behind the tram. The whole action lasted for less than one minute, number 1 and 2 jumped out of the tram and boarded the car, that drove away.This happened before I could warn the theft-victim (who went to the police and got back his wallet, without money but with his drivers license and creditcards, as I could give a description of the car and part of its license-plate.)
So beware !!

PSP - TOURIS-POLICE

Palácio Foz - Praça dos Restauradores

Alfredo Freitas & Pacheco, Lda Parque Nacoes - FIL - Rua Bojador 1900-047 Lisboa

Do not think that you are safe in nice restaurants in Lisbon, Portugal. My purse was stolen from UNDER the table, directly in front of my feet, and touching the feet of the friend seated opposite me. It was between us, UNDER the table. I was with four gentlemen, good friends. Not one of them saw the crime, it was professional. Not one of us could believe that it happened so quickly. It happened within only a few brief minutes of my being seated in this restaurant. When I announced this to my friends, the waiter immediately expressed his doubts that I had even brought my purse into the restaurant. (?!?) He did not express any concern whatsoever. His response seemed totally canned and rehearsed to me. Having something stolen while out in the streets is something we all expect, but don't let your guard down for one minute while in nice hotels and restaurants. Often, groups of people work together to rip-off their customers. Maybe the staff do not themselves steal things, but they seem to at the least be so complacent about it, that it leads one to believe that it happens all of the time. There are 'complaint books' in Lisbon restaurants, that one is supposed to use to report problems. Do not bother. Go to the police instead and report exactly what happened and get a copy of the complaint for yourself. I would not recommend a trip to Lisbon to anyone, unless they intended to keep all valuables strapped to their bodies under their clothing 24/7.
A worker in my hotel told me that he would not travel to the center of Lisbon himself, during the height of the tourist season. There are gangs in Lisbon which exist for no other reason than to thieve from as many tourists as possible. There are professional, organized, criminals. Please beware. Please register at your Embassy upon your arrival in Lisbon.

I know people have told you this a hundred times but we still fell for it. As we were getting on the #15 tram from Belem back into Lisbon we got pickpocketed.The tram was very crowded and a man on crutches got off so I made way for him . It was clearly a distraction cos a moment after that my husband's wallet was gone from his shorts pocket! Not nice at all. Fortunately the people at the Pensao were incredibly helpful. We went to the tourist police and they said it is really common on 2 routes the 15 and the 28 to the Castle. You have been warned.