Comments on: Barcelona street crime http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/ or, High and Dry on the Streets of Elsewhere Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:36:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Adrian http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-984 Adrian Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:16:58 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-984 Hi all! I've been living in Barcelona for one and a half years and I am pretty disappointed with it. I did not have "many" problems - mainly flat tires three times (luckily nothing stolen from the car those three times as every time it happened I was close to home so I would drive the car till the parking which had security cameras and guards), girlfriend purse stolen from the car at the stop light and the nastiest one, one morning going to the parking (this time, a different parking, with no security, but still, closed private parking with lots of cars) to find that the driver window has been broken. They stole the GPS which was in the glove compartment and two pairs of sun-glasses. I know of numerous other incidents and I'm still hearing more every day. In our building for instance - which is not in the very center by far - there have been in the past six months two robberies; again, this is a building which has videophone at the entrance and the downstairs door is always closed - however, they still manage to get in every once in a while. I am very frustrated that I do not understand, besides the authorities ignorance, the ignorance of the locals, which fall victims as well in many cases. Most of Barcelona lives off from tourism, and they do not do anything to protect it. Meanwhile, I will not recommend anybody to visit or come live in Barcelona. Until things get straighten up at least. And I think everybody should do the same. I think we need to raise awareness and I hope some non-profit organisations will appear that will go around the city and in the airports and post posters with security warnings and informational materials about the high level of crime. Hi all!

I’ve been living in Barcelona for one and a half years and I am pretty disappointed with it. I did not have “many” problems – mainly flat tires three times (luckily nothing stolen from the car those three times as every time it happened I was close to home so I would drive the car till the parking which had security cameras and guards), girlfriend purse stolen from the car at the stop light and the nastiest one, one morning going to the parking (this time, a different parking, with no security, but still, closed private parking with lots of cars) to find that the driver window has been broken. They stole the GPS which was in the glove compartment and two pairs of sun-glasses.

I know of numerous other incidents and I’m still hearing more every day. In our building for instance – which is not in the very center by far – there have been in the past six months two robberies; again, this is a building which has videophone at the entrance and the downstairs door is always closed – however, they still manage to get in every once in a while.

I am very frustrated that I do not understand, besides the authorities ignorance, the ignorance of the locals, which fall victims as well in many cases. Most of Barcelona lives off from tourism, and they do not do anything to protect it.

Meanwhile, I will not recommend anybody to visit or come live in Barcelona. Until things get straighten up at least. And I think everybody should do the same. I think we need to raise awareness and I hope some non-profit organisations will appear that will go around the city and in the airports and post posters with security warnings and informational materials about the high level of crime.

]]> By: Aghast http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-949 Aghast Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:47:41 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-949 Hi everyone, I stumbled upon this blog googling on the subject. My parents, both very well-travelled and savvy and still relatively young, just came back from Barcelona. They were scammed by 2 individuals IMPERSONATING POLICE OFFICERS. These two scammers accosted my parents, demanding to see their passports and wallets to check if they were "buying drugs" or some bullsh*t. My parents, not speaking Spanish, had absolutely no way of challenging them, and they couldn't even read the "ID" that was proffered to them. And being from East Asia, there is a certain attitude of trust in police officers. A few hours after that, my dad realized that USD 500 was missing from his wallet. I visited Barca myself in 2003 with 3 other friends but encountered no incident. I don't think I'll ever go back now. How on Earth does one challenge an apparent police officer in a country where one speaks not the language???? Hi everyone,

I stumbled upon this blog googling on the subject. My parents, both very well-travelled and savvy and still relatively young, just came back from Barcelona.

They were scammed by 2 individuals IMPERSONATING POLICE OFFICERS. These two scammers accosted my parents, demanding to see their passports and wallets to check if they were “buying drugs” or some bullsh*t.

My parents, not speaking Spanish, had absolutely no way of challenging them, and they couldn’t even read the “ID” that was proffered to them. And being from East Asia, there is a certain attitude of trust in police officers.

A few hours after that, my dad realized that USD 500 was missing from his wallet. I visited Barca myself in 2003 with 3 other friends but encountered no incident.

I don’t think I’ll ever go back now. How on Earth does one challenge an apparent police officer in a country where one speaks not the language????

]]> By: Hollis http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-736 Hollis Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:21:59 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-736 @ Teri - If you moved to another neighborhood half your worries / stress would be over. You live right in the belly of the beast which is half of the problem right there. At least the majority of crime here is "petty" and not far worse, aggressive crime. That said I do not cut the local authorities any slack at all. I know the US Consulate has broached this subject with the Catalan authorities though no direct action has come of it that I know of. I'm just a month into moving here myself; I believe a proactive mindset can and will bring real change to this serious problem. I will say that things have gotten better since my first week, but that's not to say the crime has gone away. Have a pint of bitter for us back home in London. All best with your move. Cheers. @ Teri – If you moved to another neighborhood half your worries / stress would be over. You live right in the belly of the beast which is half of the problem right there. At least the majority of crime here is “petty” and not far worse, aggressive crime. That said I do not cut the local authorities any slack at all. I know the US Consulate has broached this subject with the Catalan authorities though no direct action has come of it that I know of. I’m just a month into moving here myself; I believe a proactive mindset can and will bring real change to this serious problem. I will say that things have gotten better since my first week, but that’s not to say the crime has gone away. Have a pint of bitter for us back home in London. All best with your move. Cheers.

]]> By: Teri Leigh http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-723 Teri Leigh Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:17:42 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-723 Good to know at least somebody is talking about this problem. I´m from London and have lived here 7 years, everyone goes on about crime in London but it is much worse here and done with impunity by the low life scum that do it. The last comment which is clearly written by a smug local who´s never been robbed before is not very helpful. So nobody can wear a strange hat, what´s that about?? No backpacks (small or large), everyone uses them these days and it´s a bit out of date to assume anyone with one is a tourist! If all of us who lived here or are considering doing so has to pay attention to the long list of dos and donts then quite frankly it is not worth the hassle. In London I never had to think about my bag, here it is always on my mind and I´ve only had possessions stolen once and that was on a bus so crowded I was wedged in so tightly I couldn´t move my arms, despite the fact that my bag was in front of me and fully zipped a latino scumbag managed to take out my purse and quickly got off the next stop, I saw him but couldn´t move! The police here are terrible, not surprising with their third world salaries, my brother´s a cop in the UK and earns 8 times more. Over here the police are so relaxed they are almost horizontal. Not only that they openly smoke on duty and this gives a very bad impression. My partner was attacked by one of the Pakistani illegal beer sellers who have invaded the city in the last couple of years and flout the law with impunity as they know they can get away with it. We were walking along the cesspit that is called the Ramblas at around 3am (full of prostitutes, Eastern European mafia and pakis). We are so sick of being approached by the beer sellers that my partner lost his temper and told one of them to **** off. The said Pakistani threw a can at him and hit him hard on the head, when I looked at him I saw blood pouring down his head and was in shock. I took him over the police station literally on the Ramblas, the police simply standing there looking out on the debauchery that happens every night, doing nothing. I spent a long time talking to them and basically they said their hands were tied! They insisted my boyfriend had a tetanus shot as they knew that the Paki beer sellers keep their stash in the sewers below which are full of rats and they said he could get a nasty infection. My partner had to have stitches but the Paki got away with it and is no doubt still there peddling his wears. Our life here is a misery, especially from Thurs to Sun night when the streets of the old town (we live there) are full of low life. We can´t sleep at night due to the noise in the street caused by the locals and tourists hanging around longer due to being able to buy beer until 5am and stand in the street shouting and screaming. I´ve called the police so many times and am sick of it. Now I´ve noticed the Paki beer sellers are starting to spread further out of their area and start selling earlier and earlier, nobody does a thing. Going to the local beach is out of the question as I go there to relax but now you get bombarded with beer sellers, Chinese massage women and Africans selling rubbish, each illegal immigrant has their speciality. There was a report on the local tv about the beach beer sellers who were filmed undercover and are actually selling Class A and B drugs and the Chinese massage girls are offering hand jobs, it has become an open sewer. We are planning to move back to London early next year as we´ve had enough. London has its problems but since living here I realise that we are exposed to much more crime than we ever were back home. My father is Spanish, obviously from another era, things were different in his days and when I was coming here as a youngster. This is an over liberal society that has a stigma about right wing politics and the legacy of Franco, I believe for this reason the police don´t want to be seen to be heavy handed in any way and have gone to the other extreme in order to placate the lefty socialists that prevail this city. The mass tourism here is necessary to the locals whether they like it or not, quite frankly there is little other industry going on and most people live off the tourists in some shape or form. As this is the case they should not bite the hand that feeds them, tourists will not keep coming as things decline to the level they have or likely to get worse. Barcelona is just as expensive as London (I know this for a fact) so there are plenty more places people who don´t want to be robbed can go. It saddens me to see this happen to my father´s city but I´ve had enough!!!! Good to know at least somebody is talking about this problem. I´m from London and have lived here 7 years, everyone goes on about crime in London but it is much worse here and done with impunity by the low life scum that do it. The last comment which is clearly written by a smug local who´s never been robbed before is not very helpful. So nobody can wear a strange hat, what´s that about?? No backpacks (small or large), everyone uses them these days and it´s a bit out of date to assume anyone with one is a tourist! If all of us who lived here or are considering doing so has to pay attention to the long list of dos and donts then quite frankly it is not worth the hassle. In London I never had to think about my bag, here it is always on my mind and I´ve only had possessions stolen once and that was on a bus so crowded I was wedged in so tightly I couldn´t move my arms, despite the fact that my bag was in front of me and fully zipped a latino scumbag managed to take out my purse and quickly got off the next stop, I saw him but couldn´t move! The police here are terrible, not surprising with their third world salaries, my brother´s a cop in the UK and earns 8 times more. Over here the police are so relaxed they are almost horizontal. Not only that they openly smoke on duty and this gives a very bad impression. My partner was attacked by one of the Pakistani illegal beer sellers who have invaded the city in the last couple of years and flout the law with impunity as they know they can get away with it. We were walking along the cesspit that is called the Ramblas at around 3am (full of prostitutes, Eastern European mafia and pakis). We are so sick of being approached by the beer sellers that my partner lost his temper and told one of them to **** off. The said Pakistani threw a can at him and hit him hard on the head, when I looked at him I saw blood pouring down his head and was in shock. I took him over the police station literally on the Ramblas, the police simply standing there looking out on the debauchery that happens every night, doing nothing. I spent a long time talking to them and basically they said their hands were tied! They insisted my boyfriend had a tetanus shot as they knew that the Paki beer sellers keep their stash in the sewers below which are full of rats and they said he could get a nasty infection. My partner had to have stitches but the Paki got away with it and is no doubt still there peddling his wears. Our life here is a misery, especially from Thurs to Sun night when the streets of the old town (we live there) are full of low life. We can´t sleep at night due to the noise in the street caused by the locals and tourists hanging around longer due to being able to buy beer until 5am and stand in the street shouting and screaming. I´ve called the police so many times and am sick of it. Now I´ve noticed the Paki beer sellers are starting to spread further out of their area and start selling earlier and earlier, nobody does a thing. Going to the local beach is out of the question as I go there to relax but now you get bombarded with beer sellers, Chinese massage women and Africans selling rubbish, each illegal immigrant has their speciality. There was a report on the local tv about the beach beer sellers who were filmed undercover and are actually selling Class A and B drugs and the Chinese massage girls are offering hand jobs, it has become an open sewer. We are planning to move back to London early next year as we´ve had enough. London has its problems but since living here I realise that we are exposed to much more crime than we ever were back home. My father is Spanish, obviously from another era, things were different in his days and when I was coming here as a youngster. This is an over liberal society that has a stigma about right wing politics and the legacy of Franco, I believe for this reason the police don´t want to be seen to be heavy handed in any way and have gone to the other extreme in order to placate the lefty socialists that prevail this city. The mass tourism here is necessary to the locals whether they like it or not, quite frankly there is little other industry going on and most people live off the tourists in some shape or form. As this is the case they should not bite the hand that feeds them, tourists will not keep coming as things decline to the level they have or likely to get worse. Barcelona is just as expensive as London (I know this for a fact) so there are plenty more places people who don´t want to be robbed can go. It saddens me to see this happen to my father´s city but I´ve had enough!!!!

]]> By: Josep http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-719 Josep Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:03:46 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-719 Never been mugged or pickpocketed in Barcelona in 50 years. First place, use common sense. Don't dress like a tourist. For example; no strange hats, don't use socks if using sandals, don't hang, no hanging bags. Forget about backpacks, small bags, small backpacks, as to cameras, expensive cameras attracts thiefs. Watch out for people behind you, or lurking around. Avoid gypsies and crowds and be extremely careful in Gothic, Born and Ramblas. Keep your valuables at the hotel safe. Why do you tiurist tote expensive cameras, expensive pcs, bags with money, etc, with you? Dress modestly. Never been mugged or pickpocketed in Barcelona in 50 years. First place, use common sense. Don’t dress like a tourist. For example; no strange hats, don’t use socks if using sandals, don’t hang, no hanging bags. Forget about backpacks, small bags, small backpacks, as to cameras, expensive cameras attracts thiefs. Watch out for people behind you, or lurking around. Avoid gypsies and crowds and be extremely careful in Gothic, Born and Ramblas. Keep your valuables at the hotel safe. Why do you tiurist tote expensive cameras, expensive pcs, bags with money, etc, with you? Dress modestly.

]]> By: Bambi http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-706 Bambi Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:25:05 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-706 Hollis—Thanks for your comment. You're much more observant that most people if you've spotted 6 or 7 incidents of thievery in a week. By now I bet you've seen more more. You have choices about how to use your advantage. I'd love to hear how it's going for you after a few months in Barcelona. I hope you like the city as much as Bob and I do, despite the level of street crime. Please write again! Although the crime is easy to spot if you're looking, it isn't easy to solve. A complicated set of circumstances make change unlikely—the same circumstances that help make Barcelona the lively, creative, freewheeling city that it is. I touched on some of those issues in this very post. Hollis—Thanks for your comment. You’re much more observant that most people if you’ve spotted 6 or 7 incidents of thievery in a week. By now I bet you’ve seen more more. You have choices about how to use your advantage. I’d love to hear how it’s going for you after a few months in Barcelona. I hope you like the city as much as Bob and I do, despite the level of street crime. Please write again!

Although the crime is easy to spot if you’re looking, it isn’t easy to solve. A complicated set of circumstances make change unlikely—the same circumstances that help make Barcelona the lively, creative, freewheeling city that it is. I touched on some of those issues in this very post.

]]> By: Hollis http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-705 Hollis Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:57:32 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-705 Hello, my wife and I recently moved to Barcelona from New York. We're currently apartment hunting and so we've been bopping all around the city. In less than 1 week we have seen 6-7 instances of petty crime, whether in action or precautions against crime. Twice now I have watched someone try to pick-pocket in the metro. The first time a man kept inching closer and closer in a packed subway car around the 2 o'clock lunch rush hour. He hovered a jacket draped over his arm over a woman's bag and tried to put his hand in but I made it obvious to him that I saw what he was trying to do and he glared back at me like the devil. I was so scared since this was the first time I was knowingly standing next to a criminal petty or otherwise that I let him go because I knew he had not been successful. Just 5 minutes ago I watched 3 Arab guys inch closer and closer to me as I watched one of the guys holding a map hover right over my bag which was directly in front of me; I watched him keep trying to maneuver the map and inch closer to my bag. I looked directly at him and said JODER (FUCK) and then looked at my wife (who is Spanish) and said "again" as in here is one of these fuckers again. The man smirked at me and winked and left the train. It was pretty horrifying. Both times. The level of sleaze and total disregard by the local authorities. I'm not a policeman or a rocket scientist but this crime is so pervasive that one small step forward in my mind is to put plain clothes police officers in the subway cars and have them watch for these crimes. They're so easy to witness happening in action, and with video surveillance, you have proof and can start locking these guys up. At least that would deter crimes from happening. Why can't this happen? I can think of no other reason but complacency? I'm only 1 week into what I was hoping was going to be the start of a nice new life in Barcelona but I'm very concerned about this crime. Anyone care to comment? If there is anything locally that I can do I would like to take local action to provide feedback. If I could speak to the President of Catalunya I would. Someone needs to wake up the local authorities to this major problem. Hello, my wife and I recently moved to Barcelona from New York. We’re currently apartment hunting and so we’ve been bopping all around the city. In less than 1 week we have seen 6-7 instances of petty crime, whether in action or precautions against crime. Twice now I have watched someone try to pick-pocket in the metro. The first time a man kept inching closer and closer in a packed subway car around the 2 o’clock lunch rush hour. He hovered a jacket draped over his arm over a woman’s bag and tried to put his hand in but I made it obvious to him that I saw what he was trying to do and he glared back at me like the devil. I was so scared since this was the first time I was knowingly standing next to a criminal petty or otherwise that I let him go because I knew he had not been successful. Just 5 minutes ago I watched 3 Arab guys inch closer and closer to me as I watched one of the guys holding a map hover right over my bag which was directly in front of me; I watched him keep trying to maneuver the map and inch closer to my bag. I looked directly at him and said JODER (FUCK) and then looked at my wife (who is Spanish) and said “again” as in here is one of these fuckers again. The man smirked at me and winked and left the train. It was pretty horrifying. Both times. The level of sleaze and total disregard by the local authorities. I’m not a policeman or a rocket scientist but this crime is so pervasive that one small step forward in my mind is to put plain clothes police officers in the subway cars and have them watch for these crimes. They’re so easy to witness happening in action, and with video surveillance, you have proof and can start locking these guys up. At least that would deter crimes from happening. Why can’t this happen? I can think of no other reason but complacency? I’m only 1 week into what I was hoping was going to be the start of a nice new life in Barcelona but I’m very concerned about this crime. Anyone care to comment? If there is anything locally that I can do I would like to take local action to provide feedback. If I could speak to the President of Catalunya I would. Someone needs to wake up the local authorities to this major problem.

]]> By: Caroline http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-685 Caroline Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:28:35 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-685 I am livid, my husband is currently out in Barcelona on a stag weekend. I have learnt that on the way back to his hotel he got jumped upon by 3 men and they stole his chain from around his neck. He said the police are a useless and dont care as it is so common. I would never go to Barcelona because of this and reading other peoples reviews is sounds horrible. I am sure he cant wait to come home, but i am annoyed this has happened as the chain was not cheap! Surely the police should be taking some action! I am livid, my husband is currently out in Barcelona on a stag weekend. I have learnt that on the way back to his hotel he got jumped upon by 3 men and they stole his chain from around his neck. He said the police are a useless and dont care as it is so common. I would never go to Barcelona because of this and reading other peoples reviews is sounds horrible. I am sure he cant wait to come home, but i am annoyed this has happened as the chain was not cheap!
Surely the police should be taking some action!

]]> By: Bambi http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-669 Bambi Wed, 27 May 2009 21:11:35 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-669 I feel for you, Alice. From speaking with thousands of victims, I understand the fear and fury generated by this sort of theft. The "escalator sandwich" is all too common; it works because it seems so real, so innocent. You almost want to bend and pick up the dropped item. It's evil. I know that (some) cruise lines do not believe in warning their passengers about the real risks ashore. They want to maintain the fantasy that all's well in paradise at all costs. In the words of a manager of one cruise line I shall not name, they prefer to keep their passengers ignorant rather than exposing the “frightening” and “ominous” reality of travel. Shame, isn't it? Sweet that you got your photos back. I have a story about that, too. More than one pickpocket we've interviewed has claimed to mail back personal items on occasion. Don't know if I believe it, but that what some claim. You never want to return to Barcelona again, despite the city's many charms. I hope the city is listening to comments like yours. A serious drop in tourism may rouse a little attention. A serious drop in convention business, where the big bucks are, has got to wake them up to thievery run amok. Sadly, I don't expect a clean-up any time soon. I love Barcelona anyway. That's why we'll tell anyone "go—but stow your stuff safely." Turn your travel concerns into travel confidence. Thanks for sharing your experience and feelings. I feel for you, Alice. From speaking with thousands of victims, I understand the fear and fury generated by this sort of theft. The “escalator sandwich” is all too common; it works because it seems so real, so innocent. You almost want to bend and pick up the dropped item. It’s evil.

I know that (some) cruise lines do not believe in warning their passengers about the real risks ashore. They want to maintain the fantasy that all’s well in paradise at all costs. In the words of a manager of one cruise line I shall not name, they prefer to keep their passengers ignorant rather than exposing the “frightening” and “ominous” reality of travel. Shame, isn’t it?

Sweet that you got your photos back. I have a story about that, too. More than one pickpocket we’ve interviewed has claimed to mail back personal items on occasion. Don’t know if I believe it, but that what some claim.

You never want to return to Barcelona again, despite the city’s many charms. I hope the city is listening to comments like yours. A serious drop in tourism may rouse a little attention. A serious drop in convention business, where the big bucks are, has got to wake them up to thievery run amok.

Sadly, I don’t expect a clean-up any time soon. I love Barcelona anyway. That’s why we’ll tell anyone “go—but stow your stuff safely.” Turn your travel concerns into travel confidence. Thanks for sharing your experience and feelings.

]]> By: Alice Hastings http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-666 Alice Hastings Mon, 25 May 2009 20:08:00 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-666 Shivers go up my spine thinking back to the day we were pick-pocketed in Barcelona about 5 years ago. Let me tell you the ruse that our guys used. We were in the metro approaching the top of a tall escalator when the 2 guys in front of dropped an empty plastic asthma inhaler. They picked it up and pushed us back and we we scared we were going to fall down the steps. The guy behind us pushed us back forward and at the same time relieved my husband of his wallet. Since I have asthma the empty inhaler made my brain flash and my husband must have slightly felt the thief. In a second we were yelling in English and Spanish - "Stop Thieves" and gave chase up the steps to the street. But since we were 50 yrs.+, they were out of sight. I still kept yelling every bad word I knew in Spanish and looked for 5 minutes. Finally, we gave up and went to the local police station to make a report. We were treated politely and they took descriptions of the men and the incident and helped me when I just couldn't find the best word in my not-so-perfect Spanish. Like others who have written on this site, we are world travelers and have never had any problems on our own before. We reported the credit cards stolen immediately. My husband returned to the US the next day where he changed the bank account because there was a blank check in the wallet. The biggest surprise was when we had identity theft for about the next year. In his wallet were his driver's license,photos, SS#,and business cards. They kept reopening credit cards in his name and charging about $300 a month on small items and tolls! This was very maddening!!! At least the banks ate all the charges. Now we know what never to carry in our wallets. The biggest surprise of the scenario came about 6 mo. later when an envelope with no return address or enclosure postmarked from Spain arrived. Inside was the plastic sheath containing photos of our beautiful 25 yr. old daughter - all smelling pretty bad. Apparently, some policeman couldn't stand to throw her pretty photos away! At about the same time we also received his driver's license along with police forms in the mail. I was in Barcelona last summer on a Holland Am. ship. The staff did not warn people at all about the dangers of the city. Eight people were pick-pocketed that day ashore! I was approached as soon as I left the ship by 2 guys with a map. I screamed in Spanish - "GET AWAY- LEAVE ME ALONE!" and they left immediately. But I spent the rest of the day looking over my shoulder even with my necessary items in a money belt inside my pants. I plan to return on another cruise this summer that ends in Barcelona. I plan to jump ship in the last port (Livorno) before Barcelona. I have no further need for that city, even with some very lovely sights. Shivers go up my spine thinking back to the day we were pick-pocketed in Barcelona about 5 years ago. Let me tell you the ruse that our guys used. We were in the metro approaching the top of a tall escalator when the 2 guys in front of dropped an empty plastic asthma inhaler. They picked it up and pushed us back and we we scared we were going to fall down the steps. The guy behind us pushed us back forward and at the same time relieved my husband of his wallet. Since I have asthma the empty inhaler made my brain flash and my husband must have slightly felt the thief. In a second we were yelling in English and Spanish – “Stop Thieves” and gave chase up the steps to the street. But since we were 50 yrs.+, they were out of sight. I still kept yelling every bad word I knew in Spanish and looked for 5 minutes. Finally, we gave up and went to the local police station to make a report. We were treated politely and they took descriptions of the men and the incident and helped me when I just couldn’t find the best word in my not-so-perfect Spanish. Like others who have written on this site, we are world travelers and have never had any problems on our own before. We reported the credit cards stolen immediately. My husband returned to the US the next day where he changed the bank account because there was a blank check in the wallet. The biggest surprise was when we had identity theft for about the next year. In his wallet were his driver’s license,photos, SS#,and business cards. They kept reopening credit cards in his name and charging about $300 a month on small items and tolls! This was very maddening!!! At least the banks ate all the charges. Now we know what never to carry in our wallets. The biggest surprise of the scenario came about 6 mo. later when an envelope with no return address or enclosure postmarked from Spain arrived. Inside was the plastic sheath containing photos of our beautiful 25 yr. old daughter – all smelling pretty bad. Apparently, some policeman couldn’t stand to throw her pretty photos away! At about the same time we also received his driver’s license along with police forms in the mail.
I was in Barcelona last summer on a Holland Am. ship. The staff did not warn people at all about the dangers of the city. Eight people were pick-pocketed that day ashore! I was approached as soon as I left the ship by 2 guys with a map. I screamed in Spanish – “GET AWAY- LEAVE ME ALONE!” and they left immediately. But I spent the rest of the day looking over my shoulder even with my necessary items in a money belt inside my pants.
I plan to return on another cruise this summer that ends in Barcelona. I plan to jump ship in the last port (Livorno) before Barcelona. I have no further need for that city, even with some very lovely sights.

]]> By: Thiefhunters in Paradise » Confessions of an airport thief http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-579 Thiefhunters in Paradise » Confessions of an airport thief Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:59:54 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-579 [...] about Kharem: •A pickpocket updates his technique •Barcelona street crime •Consorting with thieves •Stalking a moving target [...] [...] about Kharem: •A pickpocket updates his technique •Barcelona street crime •Consorting with thieves •Stalking a moving target [...]

]]> By: Bob Arno http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-560 Bob Arno Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:42:33 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-560 Hello SamsonsMummy, Here is Bob replying today while Bambi is deep in South Africa. The 57 bags, from that police district is not particularly unusual. We are going to venture or speculate that there are seldom fewer than 200 incidents a day. That is quite comparable to many other big cities around the world. But yes, at he same time, Barcelona rates very high in the pecking order of street crime statistics. Fortunately it is not always (or usually not) violent. You don't get mugged or harmed unless you're in the wrong district at the wrong time and look like a "good" victim. (good to them) This input doesn't help your situation. Bambi and I fully understand how you feel. Violated, probably, more than anything else. And then there is the question of feeling foolish, probably -- could you have avoided this with more street savvy awareness? I like your comments about cameras. That is a very thorny question in Spain. And certainly in Barcelona. All across Europe the attitude to this varies enormously depending on past experiences and privacy laws. Both Italy and Spain have a Fascist history and they are not keen on bringing back anything that smacks of a police state. Even the UK, where we have plenty of cameras, have an ongoing dialog of pros & cons. The truth is that unless you also have experienced staff monitoring the cameras it really doesn't do much to hinder crime itself. Of course there are drastic scenarios where cameras have had a huge positive impact like in South Africa. But there we have extreme violence coupled with petty theft and street crime. The staff screening their monitors is huge in both Cape Town and Johannesburg, and very efficient. I doubt this will ever happen in Barcelona in a restaurant. Now, the main question, did the employee act as a partner in the crime? You would have to define the actual incidence better in order to judge. Exact positions of all 'bodies.' Who made eye-contact with whom? Precisely where on the floor was the bag, how big, what handles and so forth. But I can tell you, with about eighty percent certainty, that you are probably wrong. There would be a pattern established and the employee would be fired after two or three incidents. Much more likely is a technique where the bag can be slid along the floor at the very moment when your eye-contact was shielded by the body and/or legs of this employee approaching you. The thief knew precisely when the perfect moment was (or is) and may have had a scout in there a few minutes before scanning the guests and their belongings. I know that you want to know exactly what tools and what technique I am talking about. But here is the rub, and the reason why I am seldom writing on my own blog: the bad guys also read these posts and we are not about to embellish and increase their knowledge base of nasty gadgets. For that reason we will not reveal how it was done. The bottom line, yes, you could probably have avoided this theft, had you NOT left the bag on the floor. Something Bambi and I never do in most places we visit. Pickpockets have their own pecking order of admiration (or respect), from the lowest scum to the brilliant executioners of clever distraction techniques and equally smooth coordination in the actual moment of extraction. THIS was not a high-end thief. cheers, and thanks for posting your story on our site -- hope this will help others by being even more vigilant when visiting Barcelona. Many regions in Spain have similar problem as does the South of France and some cities in Italy. We can go on about where the threats are highest, but that's not what you want in this post -- if you are really interested in this subject matter, read our book Travel Advisory! How to avoid thefts, cons and scams while Traveling. Bob Arno Hello SamsonsMummy,

Here is Bob replying today while Bambi is deep in South Africa. The 57 bags, from that police district is not particularly unusual. We are going to venture or speculate that there are seldom fewer than 200 incidents a day. That is quite comparable to many other big cities around the world.

But yes, at he same time, Barcelona rates very high in the pecking order of street crime statistics. Fortunately it is not always (or usually not) violent. You don’t get mugged or harmed unless you’re in the wrong district at the wrong time and look like a “good” victim. (good to them)

This input doesn’t help your situation. Bambi and I fully understand how you feel. Violated, probably, more than anything else. And then there is the question of feeling foolish, probably — could you have avoided this with more street savvy awareness?

I like your comments about cameras. That is a very thorny question in Spain. And certainly in Barcelona. All across Europe the attitude to this varies enormously depending on past experiences and privacy laws. Both Italy and Spain have a Fascist history and they are not keen on bringing back anything that smacks of a police state. Even the UK, where we have plenty of cameras, have an ongoing dialog of pros & cons. The truth is that unless you also have experienced staff monitoring the cameras it really doesn’t do much to hinder crime itself.

Of course there are drastic scenarios where cameras have had a huge positive impact like in South Africa. But there we have extreme violence coupled with petty theft and street crime. The staff screening their monitors is huge in both Cape Town and Johannesburg, and very efficient.

I doubt this will ever happen in Barcelona in a restaurant. Now, the main question, did the employee act as a partner in the crime? You would have to define the actual incidence better in order to judge. Exact positions of all ‘bodies.’ Who made eye-contact with whom? Precisely where on the floor was the bag, how big, what handles and so forth. But I can tell you, with about eighty percent certainty, that you are probably wrong. There would be a pattern established and the employee would be fired after two or three incidents. Much more likely is a technique where the bag can be slid along the floor at the very moment when your eye-contact was shielded by the body and/or legs of this employee approaching you. The thief knew precisely when the perfect moment was (or is) and may have had a scout in there a few minutes before scanning the guests and their belongings.

I know that you want to know exactly what tools and what technique I am talking about. But here is the rub, and the reason why I am seldom writing on my own blog: the bad guys also read these posts and we are not about to embellish and increase their knowledge base of nasty gadgets. For that reason we will not reveal how it was done.

The bottom line, yes, you could probably have avoided this theft, had you NOT left the bag on the floor. Something Bambi and I never do in most places we visit.

Pickpockets have their own pecking order of admiration (or respect), from the lowest scum to the brilliant executioners of clever distraction techniques and equally smooth coordination in the actual moment of extraction. THIS was not a high-end thief.

cheers, and thanks for posting your story on our site — hope this will help others by being even more vigilant when visiting Barcelona. Many regions in Spain have similar problem as does the South of France and some cities in Italy.

We can go on about where the threats are highest, but that’s not what you want in this post — if you are really interested in this subject matter, read our book Travel Advisory! How to avoid thefts, cons and scams while Traveling.

Bob Arno

]]> By: Samsonsmummy http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-559 Samsonsmummy Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:44:16 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-559 Just returned from a few days in Barcelona with my family. We were aware of the crime and were extremely vigilant at all times. However my sisters bag was stolen in a Pizza Hut restaurant. We are 100% certain that our waitress stole it. The restaurant was empty when a man walked in and stood behind the waitress as she served us, we know realise she passed the bag onto him. As my sister was sitting with her back against a wall it was impossible for anyone to get near to her, other than the waitress. The police said they had 57 bags reported stolen at that police station alone, that day! They said they could not do anything about the crime and that Pizza Hut and McDonalds were the most likely places for thieving, but the companies will not install CCTV in them!! So basically, dont assume that staff are honest! And quess what - she had the audacity to fetch us the bill!! Just returned from a few days in Barcelona with my family. We were aware of the crime and were extremely vigilant at all times. However my sisters bag was stolen in a Pizza Hut restaurant. We are 100% certain that our waitress stole it. The restaurant was empty when a man walked in and stood behind the waitress as she served us, we know realise she passed the bag onto him. As my sister was sitting with her back against a wall it was impossible for anyone to get near to her, other than the waitress. The police said they had 57 bags reported stolen at that police station alone, that day! They said they could not do anything about the crime and that Pizza Hut and McDonalds were the most likely places for thieving, but the companies will not install CCTV in them!! So basically, dont assume that staff are honest! And quess what – she had the audacity to fetch us the bill!!

]]> By: Thiefhunters in Paradise » Windows Mobile 6.5 demo phone stolen at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-540 Thiefhunters in Paradise » Windows Mobile 6.5 demo phone stolen at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:49:48 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-540 [...] victim: don’t beat yourself up. It happens to lots of visitors to Barcelona. So many, that events are starting to flee Barcelona for safer [...] [...] victim: don’t beat yourself up. It happens to lots of visitors to Barcelona. So many, that events are starting to flee Barcelona for safer [...]

]]> By: Eric Thompson http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-445 Eric Thompson Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:16:25 +0000 http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/03/barcelona-street-crime/#comment-445 Sadly I could not agree more. My wife and I and children and granddaughter have just returned from Barcelona for my wife's birthday, November 2008. We have travelled all over but in Barcelona I was very worried about the feeling of crime. We were constantly being misdirected and approached from various sides and I could not relax at all. I was anxious about my granddaughter who is only 5 and terrified when people tried to approach her. We ended up by mistake in dark lanes only 2 or 3 streets from the Ramblas and were surrounded by beggars and people watching from doorways and corners. As it happened we were mugged in our hotel which was quite a smart hotel in Placa Catalunya. !0 am in the morning sat in the lounge waiting for breakfast and a team of 4 people surrounded my wife with requests for information on local news and within 30 secs her handbag with money cards iphone camera and glasses had gone. The CCtv clearly shows it happening but everyone shrugs their shoulders and say 'this is Barcelona'. Like us keep an eye on your selves while on the streets and don't let anyone distract you, but don't think you are safe in the hotels either. Sadly I could not agree more. My wife and I and children and granddaughter have just returned from Barcelona for my wife’s birthday, November 2008. We have travelled all over but in Barcelona I was very worried about the feeling of crime. We were constantly being misdirected and approached from various sides and I could not relax at all. I was anxious about my granddaughter who is only 5 and terrified when people tried to approach her. We ended up by mistake in dark lanes only 2 or 3 streets from the Ramblas and were surrounded by beggars and people watching from doorways and corners.

As it happened we were mugged in our hotel which was quite a smart hotel in Placa Catalunya. !0 am in the morning sat in the lounge waiting for breakfast and a team of 4 people surrounded my wife with requests for information on local news and within 30 secs her handbag with money cards iphone camera and glasses had gone. The CCtv clearly shows it happening but everyone shrugs their shoulders and say ‘this is Barcelona’.

Like us keep an eye on your selves while on the streets and don’t let anyone distract you, but don’t think you are safe in the hotels either.

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