Before I start to write about all the different types of pickpockets in Barcelona, I would like to advise that this does not put you off visiting Barcelona as it is an beautiful place to visit and you can encounter all the same crime in any city in the world.
I am originally from Ireland and have been living in Barcelona for approximately 3 months, I live in a third floor apartment just of Las Ramblas and I watch these pickpockets operate most nights in order to give you some advise on how to steer clear of having your purse or wallet snatched.
First off, these pickpockets are not locals or Spanish even but they speak with a distinctive eastern European accent,and are thought to be Romanians.(This is not fact but just what I hear).
I am going to run through some of the pickpocketing techniques which are used and you should note these are methods used when night falls and not they typical methods you will find on Las Ramblas or the metro during the day. I am going to note which type of people they target and what methods they use, I hope you find this useful on your trip to Barcelona.
1.Men and Women above the age of 40.
The most typical form of thieving that you may have to watch out for here is what I would call the "Snatch and Run", If you are carrying a handbag or bag with a loose enough strap and for any reason you may have to stop to check a street name or a map then you are in danger of having your bag snatched as long as the pickpockets believe you are holding something valuable and YES they will know because they will be after spotting on the street a few minutes earlier and they will be following you.You may thing because you have your hand on your bag and a strap around your shoulder that it is safe.
How do they do it?
They may have a knife on them which they will use to cut the strap and then pull the bag from your grip, they will then run through the small alleys of Barcelona, they will target you because they know you may not be able to keep up with their speed of running.
How to avoid it?
Keep your bag or handbag in front of you (resting against your stomach) with your hand firmly around it and the bag pushed down so the strap is pressed firmly against your body. I would also advise to place the strap from one shoulder across your body instead of just using one shoulder and letting it hang down that side.
You will see many locals wearing there bags this way.
A Lucky Story!
The locals here do not like these pickpockets and on more than one occasion I have seen a local tell a pickpocket to leave a tourist alone which they quickly listen to.
With one of these "Snatch and Run" attempts, I observed a local take chase on the pickpocket, he caught up with the pickpocket who then dropped the bag and it was returned to it's owner.How is that for luck!
2.Young women and women on hen parties!
So you have come to Barcelona and you are enjoying your night out, after a few drinks and making your way to the next pub.
We all know girls love the attention and this is what the pickpockets prey on, yes girls, if you find 1 or 2 guys following you up the street with one of these persistently hanging off you with one hand, guess what, his other hand is behind you rifling through your handbag.No he is not interested in your good looks and not interested in meeting up with you for a drink later, he just wants your wallet.
How to avoid it?
Keep your hand bag in front of you at all times tightly wrapped around you. If they come up to you and begin to make it look like they are trying to make friends or go out with you, don't run, keep walking and tell them sternly, "NO, go away", show them you mean business and they will leave you alone.Be safe and enjoy your hen party.
3.This applies only to males and drunk males.
We are all guilty of it guys, going on a night out and leaving the drunkest friend wobble behind like an injured gazelle. I refer to the animal because this method looks like it is straight from the animal kingdom.
Yes your friend wanders behind the group drunk as a skunk and a just a bit behind him follows 3 to 4 pickpockets sticking closely by the walls like "Hyenas" stalking the injured Gazelle. They will approach your friend and you may turn around and go back to him and the method I am about to tell you is probably one of the most common methods that I have not seen reported anywhere on the internet.
The pickpockets will start saying "Messi, Messi" and of course everyone knows the famous Barcelona player (sometimes they will use different saying to vary it but the method is always the same), they will then put their hand up as in to signal a "high five", this is a very important part as depending on what pocket they want,they raise different hands so for example,if they want your left side pocket,they will raise their left hand and they will raise it in a position where you will raise your left hand. Once your hands connect they will take a firm grip like a handshake and will then move their body parallel with yours, they will bend their knee and place it in between your legs wrapping it around your left leg, they will then begin to jump up and down as if doing some sort of dance which you may think is funny if you are drunk or just strange if you are sobre. While all the jumping is going on ,the pickpockets right hand will be in your left pocket taking whatever he can. They will be gone before you even realize your belongings are missing.
How to avoid this?
I know it's easier said than done for the drunk guys but don't leave any of your friends wandering behind, they are so fast at doing this that by the time you turn around,this could of been done to your friend already.
Also be firm with these guys,I would advise that you tell them in a stern way to "F**k off" or "Get away" and they will be persistent when you are drunk, if they persist, give them a firm push away,DO NOT HIT THEM as this will draw the rest of them in and could end up in a large fight, these guys get the picture with a few firm pushes, they then realize you know what they are up to and they will leave you alone.
There are a few different variations of this method but they all end the same way, when the pickpocket has his leg between yours, if this happens, push them away immediately and check your pockets.
4.The Prostitutes.(For Males)
If you are walking around at night and are suddenly encountered by a couple or a group of young African girls, then this is the time you must be vigilant, they will grab your arm,jacket,testicles and so on and this is all part of a distraction, they will be walking behind you,in front of you and brushing off you. You need to be alert to all of them that are around you because if you focus on telling just one of them to leave you alone, the chances are that another one is cleaning out your pockets.
How to avoid it?
This one is simple, stick your hands firmly in your pockets and keep walking fast and straight, don't interact with them. However you cannot avoid this if you are foolish enough to take these girls up on the offer of a €5 blowjob which once they have your pants around your ankles, your money is gone and so are they. :D Try running after them with your pants down.
To conclude my article today and I will continue to add articles of stories and methods that the pickpockets use.
I must add that if you keep your wits about you, you will not get pick pocketed.
Here is 2 good pointers.
1.Check behind you frequently, if you notice someone quickly catching up on you and you think they look suspicious then stop, turn and face them as if you are turning around, let them pass you out. It might cost you a minute but it's better than costing you your wallet.
2.This is for walking at night in the Las Ramblas area, if a suspicious guy walks past you, the minute he passes you,turn your head and look at him and you will find that he has turned his head to check your back pockets but the fact that you turned your head lets him know that you know what he is doing.
As they say, attack is the best form of defence.
Until the next time,take it easy and book your flight to Barcelona as it really is beautiful.
All comments and questions are accepted and will be answered.
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