Pickpockets, Barcelona

If you decide to sleep on Barcelona beach, beware not to take anything valuable with you (lock it up in a hostel). When I decided to do this I was awoken 3 times by someone trying to go through my pockets. Luckily I had nothing of value on me so I didnt lose too much sllep over this. Heh!. Dont be afraid, these guys didnt seem dangerous, in the morning the pickpocket even lent me his CD player after I had given him a piece of my mind.

I've luckily never been a victim (touch wood) but I do have friends who have visited Barcelona and had bad experiences. The best advice I can give is to act as if you know where and what you are going even if you are a bit lost. If you look too much like a tourist you will be a target.

Most tourists are aware of the threat of being pickpocketed, robbed, etc. in any major city, as was I when I traveled to Barcelona. Just thought I'd add that one place that one would likely consider to be "fairly" safe is an internet cafe. I learned not. One day, while using a computer in one (right along Las Ramblas), there was an older man (maybe close to 50--a local, I assumed, dressed in a suit) who while I was turned towards the computer moniter, blatently grabbed my purse (which was stupidly placed beside me, instead of "attached" to me--my fault). The moment I turned around, he dropped my purse and ran out of the place. This was during the daylight hours and there were many people around. Thought it was very brazen of him. The next day, while roaming around Las Ramblas with my friend, I noticed the very same man scoping out the passing crowds.

Also, when you're warned to be exceedingly careful walking alone at night, don't think that you'll be the exception to what has happened to many. Especially being a female. I decided to walk to a store late at night to purchase cigarettes and a juice, and was propositioned by two men (on seperate occasions), one of which followed me all the way to my hotel. Luckily, my friend (a guy) ran into me right around the corner. Regardless of what some may be thinking, I was not provocatively dressed, nor did I in anyway initiate any type of eye contact, etc. Also, be VERY careful walking down the charming narrow side streets of the city-even in the daytime. Around noon one day, my same friend and I were walking down one of these very streets and encountered several men, who then after quietly observing us, broke up into two groups. A group of two continued in front of us, while one remained behind us. Since my friend was a local, he warned me that this is typical of robbers who work in groups. Needless to say, I was very nervous. I think these guys sensed that we were becoming aware of their intentions and soon moved on.

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Take care of your personal things especially money and documents. There are lots of street thiefs ans pickpockets. Allways use small bills (banknotes) and keep money in more than one pocket. Those gipsy thiefs (usually mother with small child in their arms) will try to sell you flower for 10 cents. It is cheap and you feel you should help this poor woman. You give her money, she thanks you and go away. In next few minutes someone will take all of your money and you want feel a thing. The point of selling flowers cheap was to see where you keep your money - in which pocket.

You have to be careful when you're on Las Ramblas. I had a backpack purse & was looking at some postcards when I noticed a man get really close to me. He backed off when I turned around & looked at him, but I knew what he was after.

I've traveled in Europe for the past four years and lived in Chicago and New York for the previous 15. After two days in Barcelona, I saw more crime then I've seen in 20 years! My wife and I were robbed by a goo squirting pickpocket. The police office taking my report said his station records 100 robberies a day. How many are unreported I wonder. Apparantly, the criminals are not very harshly prosecuted and are free to rob as long as it is not "violent". Ifa family vacation is ruined or people have to worry whereever they go, how enjoyable is that?

My advice is to go to another city in Europe. BARCELONA is the worst I've experienced!

While I was walking along the esplanade/walkway near the water in Barcelona, a woman came up to me and gave me a flower. Although my Spanish is basic, I understood that she was giving them out because there was a flamenco dancing festival further on, or something to that effect. She then asked for 50 euro cents, so I opened my wallet (mistake) and looked in the coin compartment for something to give her. (This was the first time I'd opened my wallet since I withdrew money from the bank.) Another woman came up and the two of them "helped" me search for 50 cents - at the time I thought it was a bit odd that they were making such a fuss, because I could see the coins I needed, and they were actually getting in the way of me reaching them. I eventually gave the first woman 50 cents and kept walking, and it wasn't until later in the afternoon when I went to buy a drink that I realised 150 euros was missing from my wallet. I went back to where they had been and they were still wandering around selling flowers; I took photos and videos of them and went to the nearest police station. They basically said that they couldn't do anything without witnesses and to be more careful in future. DO NOT accept flowers from these women - they stole 150 euros from me, and I even lost the stupid flower later in the day.

This may or may not be a pickpocketing ploy but luckily I never found out.

I was walking alone on La Rambla (in the middle section) after midnight. A passing man told me (in English) that I "dropped a coin on the floor", and pointed to where I had dropped it. I was suspicious at this apparent concern and just said "it doesn't matter". Then he said it again with a bit more insistence. I repeated "it doesn't matter" and walked away. I suspect that I was being set up to be pickpocketed. Perhaps if I walked to the spot where I allegedly dropped my money, and bent down, an accomplice would have emptied my pockets.

This incident may have been innocent but best not to take chances.

YR