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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if Barcelona is unsafe

101 replies

Thepinkyponkc · 20/04/2024 21:18

I’m off to Barcelona with 13 friends (all women) 30-50s age. I haven’t been for a few years , but when I did we’ve never had any safety problems with muggings etc and I had a handbag , phone and money in there . Quite a few people are telling me it’s now rife for mugging- phones, Jewellery etc. Is this the case? I was planning on taking a shoulder cross over bag and putting my things in it but I’m worried now I might have to take an old phone and hide my cc down my bra 🤣 is it really this extreme?!

OP posts:

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 21/04/2024 09:05

I'be been a few times and would go again but it's definitely high crime. You can practically sit and watch it. One time a couple watched me use the cashpoint and then the woman put her hand in my bag as I was descending stairs into the tube, and she was behind me. I snatched it away and they went past me, screaming abuse to wrong foot me. Oddly it was embarrassing, but she was definitely pickpocketing my bag-I saw it.

I heard of a massage therapist on a beach being pickpocketed at the same time. Lots operating in hands in the Ramblas. A man beaten up for warning people.

There is so much to do there, and it's an utterly beautiful city. It can be safe. But you have to think about how you will store your property effectively whilst you're out. Use a bumbag or similar and have it in view. Protect the zip on it on the tube or in crowds.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 21/04/2024 09:10

@Juniperberries200

" the thief asked for directions and placed his map over it on the table. Lifted the map and the phone."

I had similar happen to me in the UK on holiday in a village post office. I was sending a birthday card with £20 in cash, and the thief knocked the envelope off the table, then had vanished with my £20 by the time I had cone back up from collecting it! It was an elderly person too. I was stunned.

Plump82 · 21/04/2024 09:11

I've been 3 times, first time a long time ago when I was young and didn't care. 2nd time a few years back I was really panicky about it but it was absolutely fine. Just don't be daft! Things like leaving your phone in the middle of a table, I wouldn't do that here so why do it in any other busy city. Don't go with any illusions that it doesn't happen because it doesn't but if you keep your wits about it you'll find it's amazing city. It's probably my all time favourite now and despite being there the last 2 years, we've booked again for December!

Lampzade · 21/04/2024 09:13

The biggest problem in Barcelona is the smelly drains.
As others have said, just keep your wits about you. Don’t wear expensive jewellery and buy a purse belt

MintyCedric · 21/04/2024 09:13

I went with then 14yo DD in 2018.

We were sensible as you would be in any city, but didn’t feel unsafe at any time.

Just don’t go to any of the eateries/bars on La Ramblas - you will be ripped off!

Lampzade · 21/04/2024 09:16

Also, leave your passport in the hotel safe. In the event that your bag is stolen you won’t have the added pressure of having to deal with passport issues

ProcrastinationCentral · 21/04/2024 09:17

We were there this time last week! Felt fine, no more threatening than any other major European city (appreciate that isn't what I'd be saying had we been unfortunate enough for anything o happen).

LadyEloise1 · 21/04/2024 09:28

It's a city that that makes a lot of money from tourists so I don't understand why the authorities are so lax re criminality.
Why don't they clamp down hard ?

ap1999 · 21/04/2024 09:32

Another one who lived there for a few years. It's fabulous. Never felt at risk walking around at night / using metro etc .. as took the exact same precautions I would take in any city/town in the UK.

Megifer · 21/04/2024 09:32

We went years ago and were astonished at how rife brazen pickpocketing and people 'accidentally' bumping into you to get in bags etc was.

We went back last year thinking maybe it had changed. It hasn't, i saw at least 6 pickpockets in action in the space of about 3 hours, I was too far away to alert the people 😔 and several times men walking far too close behind me. I keep my bag zipped and to my front but this was just exhausting to be on high alert for 3 days solid.

ClonedSquare · 21/04/2024 09:35

NecessaryNC24 · 21/04/2024 08:54

These phone lanyard things are a good idea too. If someone tries to grab your phone , they grab you with it :

Not always a good idea though, if it just means they'll use violence to get what they want.

My friend was mugged by a pair of guys on a moped (not in Barcelona). She was wearing her bag strap under her jacket. They dragged her along then the passenger punched her several times (presumably thinking she was refusing to let go of the bag) and continued dragging her until he managed to snap the strap by hand.

BeaRF75 · 21/04/2024 09:35

This has been said for decades. Use your common sense, and you'll be fine - like any city. So no expensive jewellery, be discreet with your phone, be careful in crowded places, don't get drunk.

Notmyuser · 21/04/2024 09:37

Fr7fr6 · 20/04/2024 21:27

I know someone whose suitcase was stolen on the train and another whose phone was swiped out of their hands. Both well seasoned travellers. I think it's a city where you need to be extra vigilant.

I now wonder if I know you because our suitcase was stolen in similar circumstances. We did get it back though, because I chased the thief.

Ginmonkeyagain · 21/04/2024 09:40

I hadn't really noticed but this is standard big city stuff and I am a Londoner. You are immediately suspicious of anyone who gets too close.

We have just come back from New York and there is a shakedown operating there where a woman and young child get on the Subway. The woman is offering chocolate and sweets for sale from a cinema usher style tray engaging commuters in her patter, while the young child hovers clearly slipping their hand into bags and pockets.

Thejackrussellsrule · 21/04/2024 09:41

Daughter had her phone snatched out of her hand whilst she and her friend were waiting for a taxi to take them to the airport. She ran after him, then a load of lads (there was a sports game on, they had the same tops on) gave chase, eventually the thief threw her phone in the road and ran off!

It was in Barcelona, but could have honestly been any city, use a body cross bag, be conscious of your surroundings.

Thepartnersdesk · 21/04/2024 09:51

My friend had her (plain not flashy) chain ripped from her neck as she tried to go through the doors to her (nice) hotel.

The staff pretended not to see, were little help in contacting the police and she later heard them telling another couple it's a very safe area.

Of course it's a big city so there will always be some crime but think carefully about what you wear and carry.

LittleGreenDuck · 21/04/2024 09:58

You need to take precautions the same as in any big city. My parents were nearly pickpocketed on La Ramblas, a large group stopped in front of them, blocking their way whilst another sidled up behind them and tried to swipe their pockets. Fortunately my dad realised what was happening and swerved them.

Conversely, my son went to Barcelona last year on a school trip and managed to leave his phone in the toilets of a shopping centre. They went back 20 minutes later and, unbelievably, it had been handed in to Customer Services. He was very lucky, but just shows that there are still honest people around.

OnGoldenPond · 21/04/2024 10:03

These warnings have been doing the rounds for at least 30 years. They were overhyped then and they are overhyped now. Don't worry, take sensible precautions as you would in any big city and you will be fine.

The same has been said about London since the 70s. Some Americans won't come to the UK at all as they think they will be killed by bombs or muggers. Yet they are perfectly happy to go to New York . I've lived in London for over 35 years, not been attacked or robbed yet.

Peonies12 · 21/04/2024 10:04

It’s a city, of course they’ll be pick pockets and petty crime. You’re statistically more likely to have a car accident driving to the airport in the Uk. I’ve travelled the world and never had any issues.

myusernamewastakenbyme · 21/04/2024 12:45

I used to work in a Bureau de Change and lost count of the number of my customers who went to Barcelona and came back without their phones etc....I dont think I would go as I wouldn't enjoy being on high alert constantly unable to relax...same reason I will not go to South Africa.

ViaMargutta · 21/04/2024 18:39

My favorite city! Lived there for a few years and went there-back many times. Out and about in all hours, including with DD (11). We were there during Feb half term too.

Never felt unsafe and never been mugged/pickpocketed. Never took any special precautions, except for a cross-body bag with a zip. Although the city is known for pickpockets, so there's that.

Traveled all over and been robbed only once (at knife-point no less). That was in London. Police were less than useless, although tbh I don't see there's much they could do, really.

Mumaway · 21/04/2024 18:40

MIL was pickpocketed including her passport, friend hit by a bus, cousin raped and her lip bitten off. All experienced travellers around the world. It's one place I won't be going back to.

Misthios · 21/04/2024 18:43

I was in New York last month and had similar dire warnings about the huge levels of crime, robbery, mustn't ever go on the subway etc etc. It was fine.

I do think a large part of the problem is that people on holiday leave their common sense at home and do stupid things like carrying wodges of cash and not keeping an eye on their valuables.

Densol · 21/04/2024 18:51

Ive been to Barcelona loads of time as I embark on cruises there.
Lovely place and I have never felt unsafe

Cauliflowersandcaterpillars · 21/04/2024 19:26

Well-travelled and Barcelona is the only place I've seen pickpocketing at close quarters. We were on the metro, the train had pulled into a station. One man pushed into an American tourist from behind, the tourist turned round and the other man grabbed stuff off him. They jumped off the train onto the platform as the doors were closing and the American tourist was stuck on the train as it pulled away. It was so fast and so slick!

DH also felt a hand slide into his trouser pocket, and didn't react fast enough - fortunately all he had in his pocket was a small bottle of hand-sanitiser, which was half-used. :)

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