Barcelona Beware!

The title is much worse than I intend, but I needed to grab your attention.

At the US Consulate a week ago for notary services, we sat in a waiting room for 45 minutes while FIVE different individuals came in because of stolen passports and wallets. FIVE in less than hour. I imagine that it is a revolving door every day at the consulate to obtain a new emergency passport.

What a hassle and disappointment! Here were tourists, vacationers, conference attendees, families and they all had a stolen passport or wallet. Being the victim of a pick pocket is a real bummer and tarnishes what would have been a fabulous city and adventure. Furthermore, the victims go back to the US and tell their sphere how dangerous Barcelona can be.

We should rewind here. We should be prepared before ever traveling abroad. We should do research, read blogs, ask questions to fellow travelers, and be informed. When asking these 5 people about their incidents, several “common knowledge” mistakes happened. Had these travelers done a tiny bit of research (like reading this blog), tragedy would not have struck!

Identifying these mistakes here can help future travelers! Here is what to do and not to do when traveling to Barcelona (or any city in Europe and abroad):

1. Before traveling, purchase an anti-theft and anti-pickpocket purse, waist belt, or back pack. My favorite are products from Travelon (www.travelonbags.com) because these are light weight, lockable, and well made. I used my first purse for 2 years before it started to show signs of wear. The pockets are zippered lock and have magnetic flaps, which make it very difficult for a thief to easily slip a hand in.
2. Do not carry originals and do not carry more than you need. Make copies of your passport and driver’s license and carry these in your purse or wallet. Take a photo of your documents and store them in a file on your phone. There is no need to carry originals as most retailers and government officials recognize a copy for security purposes. Keep your passport in the safe at the hotel. Carry only one credit card or bank card, and enough cash for the day. Should a pick pocket theft happen, only a small amount of money or card or copy of document will be lost. Back up cards and originals will still be intact so there will be little hassle getting back home.
3. When dining or drinking, do NOT place your purse on the back of chair. Do NOT put your phone on the table. Do NOT place your phone in a jacket pocket. Those carrying a purse should always wear the purse cross-body style and in the lap while dining. It is quite funny to see all my girlfriends gathered for coffee and we are sitting at a round table with all of our purses in our laps. Our purses are within sight and feel. Our phones are inside the purses unless in use because often beggars will approach tables and snatch up phones lying on tables.
4. Place wallets in the front pocket. One is more likely to feel a hand in the front pocket than the back. Additionally, it is more difficult to identify a wallet in the front pocket than the back pocket, as the outline shows easily on the rear. This is not a fail safe method but it is better than having a wallet in the back.
5. Avoid high tourist venues and seedy areas. All 5 of the above victims were in the area of La Rambla the previous evening. This street and surrounding area is well known to be a pick pocketing haven. It is relatively easy for a thief here because there is so much to see, lots of people, and sometimes gets crowded. If high tourist areas are on your list, go early in the morning when crowds are less.
6. Be aware and be diligent. Always wear your anti-theft purse cross body style and keep your hand on your purse. Thieves are looking for an easy target and they do not want confrontation. Guarding your belongings makes it more difficult or impossible for a thief and they will move on. Be extra diligent visiting high tourist areas, within large crowds, riding metros, and when dining.

That being said, the above 5 victims all stated the theft was quick, professional, and undetectable at the time of occurrence. The thieves are very, very good. For example, my aunt was visiting us in Barcelona and we ended up in La Boqueria off La Rambla in Barrio Gotic. This is a famous market, a huge tourist attraction, and a gold mine for pick pockets. My aunt had her purse cross body style in front of her but she did not have a lock on the zipper and her hand was not on the bag. A thief unzipped her purse, slipped out her wallet, and ZIPPED the purse back. We know this because we went back to the previous retailer thinking she may have left her wallet there. But after reviewing the security video footage, it was confirmed that she placed her wallet in her purse and zipped the enclosure. Therefore, the thief knew that if she looked down and saw her purse zipped, then nothing would be amiss and it allowed more time to make large fraudulent charges. Very sneaky and very professional.

Sometimes, one can spot a pick pocket thief. I have identified many now that I know some clues. When riding the metro, a thief may be wearing sunglasses (unusual because metros are underground). This is so the thief can look for opportunities without looking sketchy. A thief may be carrying a jacket over the arm. This is to hide the actual theft. A thief will often bump into you. This is so you don’t feel the theft. Thieves can be male or female, but if you feel uncomfortable around someone, move away to another car.

All of the above is general information for a better, safer, and less hassle stay in Barcelona. This is a beautiful city with so much to offer and do! It is shame that there is an abundance of petty theft but with a few changes and diligence, it won’t be a factor for you!