Comments on: Avoiding Pickpocketing / Mugging in Madrid – Link

By: Jeni

Jeni — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:22:48 +0000

interesting topic…
Toby, I lived in Madrid 10 years after you –90-91. Found it very safe, but one time I did feel someone reaching into my bag on the metro. I just turned around and screamed something at him in Spanish and he backed off.
My grandparents came to visit me, however, and my grandpa was pickpocketed on the metro the first day they were there. I felt horrible.
I am looking forward to returning some day and I really hope it’s not as bad as it sounds from this blog. I’d be interested to hear about your impressions after being away so long, Toby.

By: Dan Stevens

Dan Stevens — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:08:32 +0000

I guess it’s quite obvious to say that you can be anywhere in the world and still be a victim of crime. I had my car broken into in Portugal, and was attacked at a cash point in France, but I found Spain to be quite safe.

I have never heard of the Policeman tactic. I think anyone could fall foul of this, even the most careful traveller.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:23:29 +0000

Both my flatmates had their wallets robbed on the Madrid metro and the other day, we apprehended a Romanian who we noticed had just stolen my wallet, and turned him over to police. Predictably, as the wallet & contents represented modest value, the police explained lodging a complaint would have no effect and the pickpocket, whom they already knew, would be turned free.

Pickpockets essentially have free rein so long as they are lucky enough not to be caught stealing anything of considerable value. I believe they should be entered into some kind of social programme to extract them from their life of petty crime. This would cost the government too much? I personally don’t look kindly on paying taxes to a system that keeps thieves in free circulation as long as they’re petty. It might cause some people to resort to private justice – not desirable, not needed.

By: toby

toby — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:47:14 +0000

I have read stories of absolutely no problemas w/crime in Madrid and then there are the stories here too. one writer says it’s been happening since the 80s? When I spent my jr. year in college there in 1980-81, I never felt unsafe. well, let me qualify that a little. I never felt like a crime would be committed against me, but there were bombings that seemed like they occurred every day tho I know that can’t be true. it was alot tho to me. the day after I was in the student travel office, it was bombed. so, I worried more about getting bombed than being robbed. there was only one time I was a tad nervous. I had been studying with a friend and he walked me to the metro station near his place at midnight or shortly thereafter when we quit for the night. the walk from my metro station back to my place was kinda spooky because I had never been out that late yet. but I also recall lots of “mili men” too and maybe they’re not as prevalent now?

anyway, good information because I will be in Madrid for nearly a week next May. and Barcelona for 3…I had a pretty good sense when I was there nearly 30 years ago, hopefully it is still intact

By: thiefhunter

thiefhunter — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:31:36 +0000

When arrested, perpetrators are given fines of €200 or so and released. Presumably to go out into the street to get money to pay their fines. Barcelona has about 6,000 thefts per day! Explained here, at Thiefhunters in Paradise: http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2009/11/barcelona-pickpocket-problem/

By: Maria S.

Maria S. — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:09:23 +0000

Some of my affluent students who have gone to Madrid have come back telling me they have been robbed. One psychologist got mugged while a train passenger fell on her during a stop, another student got mugged by a motorbike taking her handbag through the car window.But we only remember… the trips with incidents. The ones when nothing happened kind of go unnoticed.
But yet, in Central Europe we know mugging and robbing is said to happen, especially in Madrid and Barcelona.

And ValenciaSon is right – New York City has got to be safer than most Southern European Cities. NYC and its people qualify for the friendliest city I know. Ask my daughter:just walking down the street, strangers would stop and talk to us. My daughter kept pulling on my sleeve to move on to Macy’s….or other shopping places.
Nevertheless, Madrid needs to clean up,but I do not know what it takes to reduce this tourist-unfriendly economy.

By: Lee

Lee — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:57:10 +0000

As if this is news? I’ve lived Madrid for 20 years and had my wallet stollen several times, been mugged violently (punched, thrown to the ground; one time they yanked my small purse off me and the strap cut my neck). I live around Huertas, and the pickpockets are one of the continuing growth industries. I’m blond and I look foreign so i get followed, have had my bag dipped into, etc. quite regularly. Luckily I’m a New Yorker so I have no mercy; I shout and have punched one or two. And the cops don’t do shit. As for citizen solidarity, the time I was mugged by a gang of glue-sniffers and thrown to the ground, at 2:30 AM with the street teeming with people, one young woman shouted “¡HAHA! ¿TE HAN PILLADO!” and then she objected when I spit in her face.

By: Ben Curtis

Ben Curtis — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:57:29 +0000

@Matthew – syringe-point! Ahhhh, how horrible! Great story about the subsequent hunt though!

By: Matthew

Matthew — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:51:08 +0000

I was mugged at syringe-point in Granada’s Albaicin in 1993. There was a fair bit of this type of petty street crime there at the time and I was prepared by having money distributed in every pocket.

Hit me quite hard though as it was just around the corner from my place. We shared the neighbourhood with several friendly junkies and they were all up in arms – we went looking for the culprit together – that someone had done something to potentially bring the police around. Definitely an experience!

Word of advice: supplying someone with a cigarette – as I did – or a light brings them into very close quarters. Probably be best to wave them off and keep moving.

By: Ben Curtis

Ben Curtis — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:06:49 +0000

Great feedback and stories above.I think the key to avoid being robbed (apart from keeping all your valuable well out of sight and trying to look as untouristy as possible!) is to be very very aware of being distracted. Most of these crimes involve some sort of distraction technique.

These days if anyone stops me in the street in Madrid to ask me anything at all (rare, I have to say!), my hand automatically goes into my pocket to protect my wallet, and I quickly look around for potential accomplices. Sad but neccessary.