Is Barcelona that terrible for crime?

[TravellingSpoon]

I have a few days off in October, and a ryanair voucher to use up.

I wanted to take the DC's ( 15 and 13) to Barcelona, but so many people have told me ita horrible for crime, especially pickpockets. I've only been once before, and that was about 15 years ago and I had a great time.

Pickpockets got the passports out of my uncle's inside coat pocket in Barcelona. He's a seasoned traveller, isn't stupid and wasn't flashing the cash or waving around gold watches.

However, he was in a tourist hotspot where professional pickpockets are very good at what they do.

It's all very well posters saying 'be sensible' - it can happen even to sensible people.

My OH was pickpocketed in Barcelona and then twice in Rome and that was 25 years ago. DH had an attempted pickpocketing in Naples a few years back (around train stations tend to be particularly bad). But it wouldn't put us off going back to any of those places. I think pickpocketing is far worse in Italy personally, but it would be a terrible shame to never go there because of it.

My advice would be for you to have all the money - it'a always the man in a couple that they try to pickpocket IME as they expect him to have the wallet. Obviously don't have it in a handbag and don't do anything to make it obvious that you have it (like keep checking the pocket etc).

Two incidents. The first I had my cross body bag wrenched off me. Not only did I lose my bag but also had an injured shoulder. He came running towards me and pulled at my bag with such a force that the rings connecting the strap to my bag were stretched and I fell to the ground.

The second we were walking along the Ramblas and got surrounded by gypsies who tried to dip my purse. Luckily I clutched my bag, one of those money bags you wear close to the body and pushed her hand away.

I was told of lots of incidents like this. The lesson I learned was only carry enough cash to cover your needs at the time and no personal documents or cards and don't use my mobile in public.

I thought I was streetwise as I had travelled extensively around Italy including Naples so was very upset at the first incident.

I think Barcelona has a bad reputation for pickpocketing but so do a lot of other cities. Friends lost their money in Florence when they got surrounded by loads of small children outside the Duomo.i expect foreigners are targeted in the same way in London. There are signs around Oxford Circus saying pickpockets are around.

I've been pickpocketed just once. On my way home from work in Manchester.
Over the past three years I've visited Rome, Florence, Brussels and Madrid and felt safe in each one. The police presence in Italy is especially impressive.
The one attempted scam going on a the time was Brussels where beggars sit with cups and make the tourist think they've knocked the cups over.