Pickpockets in Barcelona

[OZDUCK]

I hate to admit it but I probably deserved to have my wallet taken. This trip has been fraut with problems since about 4 weeks before we left.Today, in Zaragoza, we were walking alongside the river and sat on a bench to have a drink. About 400 metres later I decided to take a photo and realised I had either dropped or left my camera by the bench. We rushed back but alas it was not there. Luckily I had copied most of the photos on the memory card and only lost a few days of shots, many of which my wife had had also taken with her - better - camera.

You just can't protect stupid people from themselves And I seem to be falling into that category of late.

We have Travel Insurance but it was a 5 1/2 yr old camera so any payout would be low - plus it had dings & scrapes and the lenses cover was sticking. I will move onto a new camera and give myself a metaphorical clip over the ear.

 

[Pushka]

I hate to admit it but I probably deserved to have my wallet taken. This trip has been fraut with problems since about 4 weeks before we left.Today, in Zaragoza, we were walking alongside the river and sat on a bench to have a drink. About 400 metres later I decided to take a photo and realised I had either dropped or left my camera by the bench. We rushed back but alas it was not there. Luckily I had copied most of the photos on the memory card and only lost a few days of shots, many of which my wife had had also taken with her - better - camera.

You just can't protect stupid people from themselves And I seem to be falling into that category of late.

We have Travel Insurance but it was a 5 1/2 yr old camera so any payout would be low - plus it had dings & scrapes and the lenses cover was sticking. I will move onto a new camera and give myself a metaphorical clip over the ear.

Don’t beat yourself up. Travelling is tiring. Out of normal routines. Constant packing. Everyone has a tale of brain fade. I’ve left multiple things behind in hotel rooms etc. and I think people in Europe are just a bit more desperate than they once were. Its part of the fabric of travel and makes for stories. As long as you arrive home in one piece, or almost so, it’s been a good trip.

 

[kpc]

We had my small camera pickpocketed in Santorini a few years back. Fortunately I had downloaded all the photos from the previous 2 weeks onto my laptop the night before and only lost the photos from that morning itself...was a little upset about losing the camera but would have been devastated to have lost all the photos!

 

[harvyk]

I haven't yet been pickpocketed, but I came close in little India in SIN of all places a few months ago.

I naturally keep my hand pretty close to my pocket, so as I was walking through a crowded area this bloke put his hand on my shoulder (obviously to advert my attention as there was no reason for him to do so) at the same time his other hand hit my hand which was covering my wallet.

Needless to say I looked straight at him and gave him a "I know what you're doing" look and he retracted his hands extremely quickly and started looking in any direction but mine.

 

[moa999]

I think the biggest issue as a tourist is you are often carrying much more than you normally would making you an easy target with things in various pockets and bags.

My general tactic in these cases is to keep everything to one side that's easier protected.
Eg. Phone and slim wallet in right pocket, bag on right shoulder to the front

Even worse if carrying luggage as well.

 

[OZDUCK]

Don’t beat yourself up. Travelling is tiring. Out of normal routines. Constant packing. Everyone has a tale of brain fade. I’ve left multiple things behind in hotel rooms etc. and I think people in Europe are just a bit more desperate than they once were. Its part of the fabric of travel and makes for stories. As long as you arrive home in one piece, or almost so, it’s been a good trip.

Yes as the saying goes "Worse things happen in --------". It was pretty much as you said - a bit of a brain fade while tired. It is a pity and I liked that camera. But at least I can say it wasn't pickpocketed

Anyway there are still lots of sights to see - off to San Sebastian now.

 

[JohnK]

Back on topic, it makes you wonder why there are so many thieves in that area and nothing's done about it.

It's been the same since I first went back to Europe in early 90's. Police arrive and scammers/pickpockets run off but then back again when police gone. You'd think an undercover operation would catch them but that may not be in the best interests of the police.

Luckily I've managed to avoid thieves apart from some minor incidents. I keep saying I'll have a travel wallet with just a copy of the passport and some money when I'm travelling but always seem to need something from my everyday wallet.

 

[Ausbt]

Just back from five weeks in Europe, was on the lookout for scammers but didn't see a thing, other than some touts. I guess I can't say I'm disappointed, but a bit surprised yes. In Rome had a guy behind me yelling at me and waving a card around. There was no way I wanted to go near him, I'm looking at him saying 'Non, non, non'. Then I look closer at what he had in his hand - yep, that's my tap-and-go transaction card alright. I'd stupidly dropped the thing just moments before. 'Grazia'.

Just to double-down on stupid, a week later reviewing my online account, I'm thinking "what is this Euro 200 withdrawal?". Called the bank, disputed it, cancelled the card. Naturally a little while later I determined that in fact I'd made the withdrawal myself from an ATM.

 

[Scash]

We’ve just been to Paris, Nice, Barcelona and Venice and now on on way to Florence and so far so good. A couple of times I noticed a few suspicious people getting close but maybe I was just being paranoid . I just looked them in the eye and they moved on. We try to be vigilant and carry cash, phones, glasses etc in an over the shoulder bag that I keep to the front. It clips shut so I hope I would notice if someone tried to open it.

 

[GarrettM]

My youngest son had a credit card and a debit card stolen and somehow the thief ran up $15,000 on the credit card and $2,000 on the debit card before he realized they were gone. A police report and a recovery have started.

Probably some connection dodgy local business? Just keep an extra eftpos machine handy, and have someone tap the maximum amount every couple of minutes. Would tally up pretty quick.

There are some nice things about Barcelona, but I would never go back there.

 

[ramboflyer]

I almost never use a wallet when I travel . I find that placing a single card or cards in one front pocket and cash in another works best.
NEVER put anything in your back pocket.
My other protection is a passport size pouch with lanyard to hang around my neck, which I wear next to my skin under my clothing. I don’t like backpacks either . I also ensure that when out walking I keep Mrs GPH on my inside next to buildings (where possible) etc, rather than next to the road. Mrs GPH had her phone stolen in Barcelona, and she knew immediately what she did wrong , but it all happens so quickly.

RFD pouch with lanyard around the neck underneath shirt can carry passport, credit cards and cash. Not always convenient when making transactions but beats the alternative of getting robbed. Always do electronic copy of passport.

 

[Jennifer Cook]

I lived in Barcelona for many years and 'blending in like a local' is your best strategy. I was never pickpocketed, but I warned many tourist who were about to be, in most cases they stood out a mile. 'Travel apparel' like multipocketed vests, waist bags etc are a beacon to thieves and really unnecessary in a modern city like Barcelona. Once you have signalled to the world you are a target, you will spend the entire day being targeted by potential pickpockets.

 

[travelguy]

I always ensure that my monies are distributed when I travel. A credit card and cash for the day in a wallet which is always in a front pocket, never in a back pocket and never in an accessible jacket pocket. I also wear a travel pouch inside my clothes containing cash, a spare credit card, passport and medical vaccination certificates (if needed). I also have emergency cash in a dress leather Travel Ideology travel belt. More cash and another credit card is left in main travel luggage usually at the hotel.

Even if you are mugged at gunpoint or knife point the Travel Ideology leather belt will appear like any other leather belt and will provide sufficient cash to get yourself out of trouble. Unless you are mugged at gunpoint or knife point the underclothes travel pouch will also be secure. For simple pick pocketing, it is difficult for the person to get a wallet out of a front jeans or trouser pocket. I know this after feeling a kid's hand in my pocket in a market in Morocco.

 

[harvyk]

Probably some connection dodgy local business? Just keep an extra eftpos machine handy, and have someone tap the maximum amount every couple of minutes. Would tally up pretty quick.

Pretty risky for the business, it wouldn't take long for authorities to connect the dots.

 

[brebbles]

Travelling in Europe, particularly the tourist cities of Italy, I've found the most obvious place where pickpockets were targeting us were at train stations while buying tickets from a machine, obviously laden with luggage.

After the first instance of finding it odd that less-than-reputable type people would be so interested in what our ticket machine had to offer when there were another dozen vacant machines around us, we developed a system where I would purchase tickets from the machine and my wife would stand back-to-back with me, eyeballing anyone who came too close.

Funnily enough once I thought I had a camera stolen at BKK airport after I stupidly left it on the security conveyor while sorting out my carry-on. I returned to BKK a month later and thought I'd try my luck with lost and found, sure enough it had been handed in and all the photos from the prior trip were still there - in fact a photo of myself was how I was able to verify it was mine. I'd offer pretty long odds of anyone retrieving a camera after losing it in BKK a month earlier.

 

[Cossie]

Friends visiting Milan fell for the rail ticket scam, but only cards and money lost, not passports.

 

[Walter_Plinge]

I use a Pacsafe Velcro-closure wallet with chain that attaches to a belt loop. The belt clip locks.

Anti-theft Wallet | RFIDsafe® Z50 in Grey by Pacsafe

 

[urbanchook]

After travelling to Europe over the last 25 years we have never seen any pickpockets apart from gypsies but our recent trip we saw one on the metro in Rome. Blatant guy in front of us eyeing handbags and people. Getting on at the main station, crowded, hot ... all indications of pickpocket territory. Saw him put his hand in a tall tourist’s front pocket which was open cos he was holding onto the overhead hand rail!!! Hubby shouted loudly to the guy and the pickpocket swiftly got off the next stop and probably onto the next carriage to try again!! We’re always careful too - nothing beats the good old money belt tucked under my lightweight cargo pants. Keep the large notes and cards in there while keeping the smalls in my cheap wallet! And of course trust no one.

 

[JohnPhelan]

I once had two attempted pickpocketings in Milan - within 30 minutes of each other and by two separate groups! Gypsies both times. The usual MO - someone distracts you while the accomplices move in. The first time I just glared at them and walked off. The second time, a shopkeeper standing at her door screamed her lungs out at them. The local business people of course recognise that such things are huge negatives for the local economy.

The only time I've ever actually had anything stolen was in Bangkok several years ago - a woman got in my face as I got off a riverboat, trying to sell me stuff. A few minutes later I realised my sunglasses were gone. But they were prescription sunglasses, so hopefully of no use to her.

 

[egoode]

Well on Saturday after 18 years of travelling with no issues I had all my money and credit and debit cards stolen while in Mongolia. It happened about 3 hours before I was due to head to the airport and for the whole trip I had been keeping a separate wallet back at the hotel with most of my money and cards but this day I had out both of them in my back pack as didn’t want to leave my other wallet in the hotel baggage room. I was super lucky that they didn’t also take my passport or camera that was inside the same backpack but they were so good and quick I don’t even know where exactly it happened just know it happened within about a 20 min period from when I last used to it when I noticed it was missing.

Luckily it was towards the end of my trip. My Dad was able to send me some cash via western union to Seoul as I was there for a couple of days before heading home to Australia.

The police wouldn’t take a statement / report of the incident before my flight as they said they couldn’t do it until Monday so just hoping I can get the missing cash back from travel insurance.