Barcelona street crime
Yannick Laclau wrote about Barcelona, a city that Bob and I love. But Yannick’s news was a sad consequence of the ostrich hiding its head in the sand. He wrote that Barcelona is close to losing its status as host to the Mobile World Congress, partly because of street crime. If the conference does go elsewhere, it will be concrete evidence of the seriousness of Barcelona’s problem, which everyone knows about but few do anything about. (As if endless reports of robberies and muggings are not evidence.) If one conference pulls out, more are sure to follow. That ought to yank the ostrich’s head up. But as he just gazes bleary-eyed (”Hey, where’d everyone go?”) at lower tourism numbers, Barcelona’s convention bureau will have a helluva time convincing group organizers that the city is safe.
What a shame that attendees might miss fabulous Barcelona. Bob and I visit often. It’s one of our favorite cities for dining, atmosphere, and thiefhunting. But I must admit, while we hunt thieves in cities around the world, Barcelona is one of our best laboratories. Kharem, the thief I wrote about here operates in Barcelona. There’s tons about Barcelona featured in our book, Travel Advisory.
Some cities and tourism bureaus take a pro-active stance in fighting tourist-related crime in an aggressive manner, by warning people, taking good care of victims, and prosecuting perps. Others sweep it under the carpet and suppress press articles. Negative publicity has a devastating effect on tourism: look at Kenya, Aruba, and South Africa, three dream destinations whose reputations have been pretty ruined by crime.
Honolulu and Orlando, as opposite examples of tourism destinations with their share of crime, fight hard to combat it. If you’re a victim of crime in these cities, you’re so well-taken care of that you leave with good feelings anyway. And, you’re likely to return for another vacation there, all expenses paid, in order to testify against the thief.
Eight or so years ago, we worked on a (major cruise line’s) ship, on which we entertained with a comedy pickpocket show, and also lectured passengers on how to avoid street theft. We gave examples and showed our own video of crime in action. The ship’s hotel director, who lived in Barcelona, was deeply offended that we showed actual examples from his city, which he insisted was one of the safest in the world! Later, we were told outright that the cruise line would prefer to keep their passengers ignorant of the dangers of the ship’s ports of call, rather than expose the “frightening” and “ominous” reality of travel.
Numerous factors help explain Barcelona’s rampant thievery. Tax and immigration issues, packed prisons, overextended judicial systems, law enforcement budget constraints, high unemployment, all contribute to the persistence of street crime. But when the courts give a pickpocket a monetary fine to pay, how do they expect him to obtain the funds?
So is Barcelona right to just let itself be what it will be? Do officials realize (or care) that most visitors are not as city-savvy as its locals are, and are thereby more apt to become victims? Individuals like Canadian Mary Chipman, who broke her hip when a bagsnatcher pulled her to the ground, don’t matter. Neither do the hundred or so individuals documented on Street Scams of Barcelona, or any like them. But when conventions start pulling out, perhaps local businesses will hurt enough to instigate some changes. We shall see.
Never mind. I will continue to visit Barcelona and recommend it as an exciting place to visit. And, there’s one failsafe way to avoid pickpockets.
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12 comments for now
Barcelona does seem to have a problem. My parents are fairly well travelled, having travelled independently to fair slice of the world including Africa and India.
They’ve never had a problem anywhere before, despite that. They’re reasonably street-smart and take care to keep things out of sight, and are neither greedy nor stupid.
However they were done, not once but *twice* by separate groups during less than a day in Barcelona. A simple knife/bag snatch in one, and deliberate vandalism of their hire car at a junction by another (two tyres slashed whilst stopped at a red light).
They’ve vowed never to go back.
If a city wants a good reputation they need to work hard to maintain it, and actively fight crime. Barcelona appears to be doing neither.
30 Mar 2008 at 7:45 pm
Robbed in front of the Renaissance (Marriott) Hotel in broad daylight by three people working together with a get-a-way driver. My husband and two little girls were in the car, helpless. Checking into the hotel…no valet or doorman. Took bags with passports, credit cards, video camera, still camera, etc. Hotel did absolutely nothing except explained that it happens there at least once per month. While waiting at the embassy we met several others that had been robbed at the airport…their bags were stolen curbside when they briefly looked away and another person had their passport stolen on a tour bus. You could not pay me to go back.
17 Apr 2008 at 5:14 pm
I truly feel for you, robbed-at-the-Renaissance. Your anger and frustration are palpable, and it’s outrageous that a city should let crime against tourists reach this level. While I’m sad for you, and other victims, I’m also sad for Barcelona, an otherwise glorious city with a reputation that is tarnishing day by day. Thanks for sharing your experience. Bob and I hope to raise awareness of potential visitors, at least those who dare to go. –Bambi
17 Apr 2008 at 5:44 pm
Congratulations on a wonderful site!. What an interesting life you lead!
As someone who has lived in Barcelona for over a year I can vouch that you are not overstating in the slightest the level of petty-and not so petty-crime in the city.
I found the points you made in relation to the various disparate causes of crime in Barcelona particularly astute.
One of the interesting things about Barcelona is that it is actually quite rare for a Catalan to be targeted by thieves. A natural consequence of this is that the rampant level of street crime is often not given the attention or priority it deserves. Indeed the authorities often view the problem to lie with the tourists who prop up the economy.
Similarly, tourists returning from Barcelona often report that they felt completely safe during a brief visit. More often than not these people were traveling in large groups and therefore not particularly tempting targets.
I have spent many a day sitting on a balcony in the Barrio Gothic counting the minutes before the next scream as some poor person is attacked and robbed. These attacks happen in broad daylight every half hour. The police really don’t seem to care and good luck trying to report a crime-violent or otherwise- after nine pm.
Anyway, keep up the good work!
14 May 2008 at 3:14 pm
[...] and I just took three days to re-evaluate the street crime scene in Barcelona. I don’t know why it’s such a contentious topic. Visit any travel forum and [...]
31 May 2008 at 10:35 am
Hello,
Just returned from Barcelona, where a low-life, smug, little s**t with blonde hair, restricted me from leaving the train at El-prat de Llobregat station en-route to Sitges, where he slipped his hand into my pocket, removed my travel wallet which contained my passport, credit card, and over 100EUR in cash, and stayed on the train smiling at me as the doors closed.
My girlfrend was livid with me that i was so stupid to let this happen.
All the years of being stood like cattle on the London Underground and not being robbed makes me realise how different of a world we live in.
The local police were not very helpful, as were the Station staff at Sants Estacio.
I think that there should be a member of staff with compulsory-excellent English skills, as i found that i was alone when i needed help.
I hope that little git gets what comes to him!
03 Jun 2008 at 1:39 am
James,
One problem is that pickpocketing is considered “petty crime.” It certainly isn’t petty, when one hears reactions like yours, your girlfriend’s, and other victims’. And it isn’t petty at all when one looks at the the scope of the problem. I know, it’s relative to the big-time criminals who steal millions and murder and deal in drugs, etc.
As to pickpockets, I don’t see any improvements on the horizon. Teaching travelers to travel safely seems to be the best option for now. My husband, Bob Arno, and I are working on that. You may also have gathered from this site that we train police and security agencies to spot thieves on the street. That is, police and security agencies that care about street crime. Your thief? He’ll keep at it, you can be sure.
03 Jun 2008 at 6:45 am
I’ve just returned from 6 weeks in Barcelona, staying in various places around the city. It’s a beautiful place and one that is marked by extremes - inland seems to be the area where locals can walk at any time of day and night, sampling good eats and an easy life, nearer the coast it all gets very busy, hot and somewhat more risky.
It was the first time I have been robbed in my 34 years, being over 6 foot tall with wide shoulders, black curly hair and a careful nature. I’ve been in central London at all times of day and night, travelled around China, Egypt, Vietnam, Cambodia and Europe and having a button-up or velcro pocket and being alert has been sufficient. Until a late night in the Gothic area in Barcelona, where I was jumped from behind and dragged to the ground where my pockets were emptied. The thieves took my advice and left very quickly but the damage to my knee had already been done - the week’s holiday after working hard for 5 weeks was ruined as I was unable to walk more than a few yards without my ruined ligaments sending shooting pains up my leg. The hospital staff were very kind and my hostel manager - a very kind Indian - actually went out for provisions to see me through the next few days.
Another guest was dragged to the ground the same night by the hookers that populate the area near McDonald’s but managed to escape with just the loss of some money. A Japanese guy in the hostel was pick-pocketed on the subway but didn’t realise until much later. A couple I met in a bar had their money stolen without realising. Another tutor, a friend of mine, had her bag stolen on the beach.
Reading that back I don’t know of a worse area for robbery!?
When I was in Phnom Penh I was warned that if I was out after 2am there was a very real risk that I would be robbed with violence. If I’d known the same could happen in Barcelona I would have been much more careful. And I would have left the city with many more fond memories.
09 Jul 2008 at 6:39 pm
City officials don’t seem to want to face facts. There has been no improvement in the fifteen years I’ve been tracking street crime in Barcelona. Stories like yours must repel many a visitor, to their great loss and, possibly, to their savings.
09 Jul 2008 at 8:07 pm
I’ve just returned from Barcelona having spent the last six and a half years there, and was regularly appalled at how local Police handled “petty crime” there. If you’re not injured, it’s not worth their while investigating. I was never robbed myself, but like one of the other people commenting here I am well over 6 foot tall, and look like a skinhead; but what probably kept me safer than most is the fact that I came to Barcelona from Johannesburg via 5 years in New York City. In other words, I was constantly wary and distrustful of everyone. The city is facing a crisis, a tipping point as it were, and runs the risk of attracting no other visitors other than stag and hen parties who are marginally less likely to be victims because they move in packs. One aspect of your site that is commendable is that you don’t single out the Gitanos as the principal culprits, something I’ve sadly noticed elsewhere on many blogs. Although the local gypsies aren’t wholly innocent, nor do they make up the main players in organised pickpocketing or pursesnatching. Keep up the good work, this is a site I will be visiting again.
15 Jul 2008 at 1:49 am
I live in a rather crime ridden part of Brooklyn and I have never had anything stolen (tagged yes) but I had the biggest robbery of my life in Barcelona a couple days ago. I was actually targeted for it three times during my trip but was only the victim once. The gypsy with the carnation trick (I had nothing to steal because all my goods were in a traveler security wallet) the bird poop on your shoulder distraction (lost a backpack with my computer, my passport, my camera) and the last time I had went actually hunting for thieves (what can I say I wanted revenge) and had a guy pull the “can you help me I’m a tourist trick.” That trick depends on two of his partners then showing up, pretending to be cops and beating up the victim.
I scrammed as soon as the two other guys showed up.
The police don’t care there. I saw two robberies which made me buy the security wallet, and I’ve never felt I needed it before. I’ve been to Bangkok, Rome, hong kong, Saigon, new Orleans and this is the first place where I feel like crime is winning. On top of it I feel the thieves know this. They are so brazen here.
29 Jul 2008 at 7:09 pm
As you found out, Mike, street crime in Barcelona is pretty much a free-for-all. The best that we visitors can do is report. Make local police reports (though it might take hours and feel fruitless) and report to the embassy/consulate. City officials might get serious about getting thieves off the street when the city is seriously hurt by the convention business staying away. That’s big bucks.
Anyway, I feel for you. If your computer is anything like my computer, that was a devastating loss. For everyone, it would be most interesting to hear how the Pigeon Poop Perp made off with your backpack. Their basic M.O. is here:
http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/06/pigeon-poop-pickpocket/
30 Jul 2008 at 6:15 am