camera gear and pickpockets in Barcelona
Sep 2nd, 2011, 01:17 PM
#81
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Search the internet...
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=3231
Scroll down and look in the Robbery/Violent Theft list. You can also get stats at NaationMaster.com.
And before you smack me, I wouldn't ever tell anyone not to go to Spain, or even necessarily give them any sort of advice about protecting themselves that I wouldn't give anyone going anywhere. But I have been to Spain several times and to many other places in Europe, and I have witnessed more crimes in Spain than anywhere else, including a knife-wielding whacko in a tourist shop near the Prado that my ex-husband and the store proprietor subdued and sat on until the police arrived.
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=3231
Scroll down and look in the Robbery/Violent Theft list. You can also get stats at NaationMaster.com.
And before you smack me, I wouldn't ever tell anyone not to go to Spain, or even necessarily give them any sort of advice about protecting themselves that I wouldn't give anyone going anywhere. But I have been to Spain several times and to many other places in Europe, and I have witnessed more crimes in Spain than anywhere else, including a knife-wielding whacko in a tourist shop near the Prado that my ex-husband and the store proprietor subdued and sat on until the police arrived.
Sep 2nd, 2011, 01:17 PM
#82
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<i>danon on Sep 2, 11 at 11:24am
Why not carry a gun then? Many American do in their own country.</i>
Carrying a concealed weapon is legal in Michigan USA. It is a crime in some countries of Europe. That's why only the criminals carry guns there. Vinegar in the eyes will temporarily incapacitate the varmint. Then you can kick him over and run for it.
Why not carry a gun then? Many American do in their own country.</i>
Carrying a concealed weapon is legal in Michigan USA. It is a crime in some countries of Europe. That's why only the criminals carry guns there. Vinegar in the eyes will temporarily incapacitate the varmint. Then you can kick him over and run for it.
Sep 2nd, 2011, 01:21 PM
#83
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It seems to be a major City thing.
I'm in Barcelona over New years 11/12 and will take the usual precautions.
If I should get pickpocketed and I get hold of the bastar...d I may well be done for GBH or manslaughter. Then who's the criminal.
Do they have any police in Barcelona these days?
Muck
I'm in Barcelona over New years 11/12 and will take the usual precautions.
If I should get pickpocketed and I get hold of the bastar...d I may well be done for GBH or manslaughter. Then who's the criminal.
Do they have any police in Barcelona these days?
Muck
Sep 2nd, 2011, 02:14 PM
#84
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Vinegar contains acetic acide, and vinegar in the eyes can cause permanent eye damage and not merely temporary incapacitation. This can translate to a long prison term for the person who sprays it in someone else's eyes.
Sep 2nd, 2011, 05:55 PM
#85
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"Why not carry a gun then? Many American do in their own country."
It was being ironic.
Has everyone here lost their sense of humor?
StCirq on Sep 2, 11 at 5:17pm
Search the internet..."
The data was published in 2002 !
Anyway, if one followed the given info, he should not live in the US, travel to Australia or even visit France .
If people are scared of leaving their backyard, they should not.
It was being ironic.
Has everyone here lost their sense of humor?
StCirq on Sep 2, 11 at 5:17pm
Search the internet..."
The data was published in 2002 !
Anyway, if one followed the given info, he should not live in the US, travel to Australia or even visit France .
If people are scared of leaving their backyard, they should not.
Sep 2nd, 2011, 06:51 PM
#86
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One wonders about some posters' motives?>
Yeh what are my motives for saying what St Cirq, a really down to earth and objective poster IMO, says?
What do you think my motives are?
to warm folks about a problem that is much much more severe in Spain than other countries - yes you can cherry pick muggings in other cities but if you Google Muggings in Spain or Barcelona or Madrid you wil get pages, yes pages full of posts - only a few in other cities - what is your motive in saying that all in fine in Barcelona or Madrid when obviously it is not - again PLEASE read the thread I posted earlier and listen to Barcelona residents saying exactly what I say - be very careful here.
danon - what is your motive - what makes you an expert to defy what many others say, icnluding locals?
Why do you say there is no more a problem here than in the rest of Europe? There is an that is a fact.
You do a serious disservie in telling folks there is no problem - there is and the fact that you deny that simply means you do NOT know of which you are talking. What is your motive and what do you think can be mine for warning of a real problem?
Really what is your motive - do you run tours to Barcelona or what>
Yeh what are my motives for saying what St Cirq, a really down to earth and objective poster IMO, says?
What do you think my motives are?
to warm folks about a problem that is much much more severe in Spain than other countries - yes you can cherry pick muggings in other cities but if you Google Muggings in Spain or Barcelona or Madrid you wil get pages, yes pages full of posts - only a few in other cities - what is your motive in saying that all in fine in Barcelona or Madrid when obviously it is not - again PLEASE read the thread I posted earlier and listen to Barcelona residents saying exactly what I say - be very careful here.
danon - what is your motive - what makes you an expert to defy what many others say, icnluding locals?
Why do you say there is no more a problem here than in the rest of Europe? There is an that is a fact.
You do a serious disservie in telling folks there is no problem - there is and the fact that you deny that simply means you do NOT know of which you are talking. What is your motive and what do you think can be mine for warning of a real problem?
Really what is your motive - do you run tours to Barcelona or what>
Sep 3rd, 2011, 04:40 AM
#87
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Search the Internet and you shall find it>
yes danon search and do a honest report and not cherry pick isolated muggings in other cities - Googling Mugged in Barcelona produces pages and pages of hits - do the same for Paris, Prague and other cities like you found one instance of and yes you get a handful.
Again what is your agenda here - to tell folks there is no problems in Barcelona that should cause extra vigilance and it is just like say Paris, Prague, etc - well it ain't and why you keep carping that it is does make one wonder what your agenda is? Or are you just not in the know? I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and chose the latter. Educate yourself so you do not do a disservice to folks planning a Barcelona sojourn - and again the chances of being victimized are small but much greater than in other cities.
yes danon search and do a honest report and not cherry pick isolated muggings in other cities - Googling Mugged in Barcelona produces pages and pages of hits - do the same for Paris, Prague and other cities like you found one instance of and yes you get a handful.
Again what is your agenda here - to tell folks there is no problems in Barcelona that should cause extra vigilance and it is just like say Paris, Prague, etc - well it ain't and why you keep carping that it is does make one wonder what your agenda is? Or are you just not in the know? I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and chose the latter. Educate yourself so you do not do a disservice to folks planning a Barcelona sojourn - and again the chances of being victimized are small but much greater than in other cities.
Sep 4th, 2011, 06:39 PM
#90
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OK can we kind of get back to the topic.
I do have a question and would like feedback on which way to carry my passport. We usually wear them around our necks and tucked in our shirts (passport, ATM card and a little cash). Yeah or ney on this. Is it better to wear that stuff around your waist. We find that very uncomfortable. Have never had a problem around the neck, but then have never been in Barcelona.
OH and how is the crime in smaller towns like Girona, etc.? Do we have to be as careful.
We have sort of changed our plans because of all of the things we are reading. We have decided to do more of the countryside and limit our time to just 2 days in Barcelona. All that I have been reading has left a not so pleasant taste in my mouth. We are not really city people and don't usually spend alot of time in the bigger tourist spots. This was going to be our first time in spending 6 days in a large city. So we have decided to go back to the way we normally do things and spend the majority of our time exploring the smaller towns after we are finished our hiking portion of our trip..
I do have a question and would like feedback on which way to carry my passport. We usually wear them around our necks and tucked in our shirts (passport, ATM card and a little cash). Yeah or ney on this. Is it better to wear that stuff around your waist. We find that very uncomfortable. Have never had a problem around the neck, but then have never been in Barcelona.
OH and how is the crime in smaller towns like Girona, etc.? Do we have to be as careful.
We have sort of changed our plans because of all of the things we are reading. We have decided to do more of the countryside and limit our time to just 2 days in Barcelona. All that I have been reading has left a not so pleasant taste in my mouth. We are not really city people and don't usually spend alot of time in the bigger tourist spots. This was going to be our first time in spending 6 days in a large city. So we have decided to go back to the way we normally do things and spend the majority of our time exploring the smaller towns after we are finished our hiking portion of our trip..
Sep 5th, 2011, 06:18 AM
#91
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Anthony - point taken but it is not the person - I should have not used the name - but anybody who says there is no more a problem here than elsewhere that I think is doing a disservice and actually putting folks at more risk thru assuring them no extra precautions, etc are needed here. But take your note to heart.
Sep 5th, 2011, 03:17 PM
#92
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Any under-the-cloting pouch that cannot be seen by others is fine. Wear what is comfortable for you, as long as the neck ribbon isn't visible, and the pouch doesn't create an obvious bulge under your shirt. A thief could theoretically grab that neck ribbon (a very remote chance of this I think).
Have you considered the kind that has a loop to slip over your belt so you can flip the pouch to the inside of your trousers? More comfortable than either waist belt or neck pouch, I think, but only if you'd always be wearing a belt.
I'm sorry that you've been scared away from Barcelona. It is a fantastic place for photographers, even if petty street crime is worse there than in other places.
Have you considered the kind that has a loop to slip over your belt so you can flip the pouch to the inside of your trousers? More comfortable than either waist belt or neck pouch, I think, but only if you'd always be wearing a belt.
I'm sorry that you've been scared away from Barcelona. It is a fantastic place for photographers, even if petty street crime is worse there than in other places.
Sep 5th, 2011, 08:25 PM
#95
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Kayd, thanks for the input on the pouch. We are comfortable with wearing them around our necks so I guess we will stick with that.
Why would a photographer in a tourist town be regarded with suspicion. Although I know after 9/11 here in the states one has to very careful about taking photos of certain buildings and in certain areas.
Taking photos of people is another whole issue....
Why would a photographer in a tourist town be regarded with suspicion. Although I know after 9/11 here in the states one has to very careful about taking photos of certain buildings and in certain areas.
Taking photos of people is another whole issue....
Sep 6th, 2011, 03:53 AM
#96
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I would not wear any pouch around my neck in Barcelona lest I want to get a bruised neck when a theif tries to grab it off you. Only use concealed money belts, etc. IMO - a pouch around the neck implies valuables in it and automatically becomes a target for down and out drug addicts desperate for a fix.
Sep 6th, 2011, 07:23 AM
#98
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Well again the chances of being victimized are generally low buyt much higher than in typical European cities of same size and number of tourists - IMO anything visible that seems to hold valuables entices a would be street criminal - now if they cannot see the string around the neck sure it is then concealed which many recommend.
And no IME the Madrid-Barcelona problem does not exist in most Spanish towns - where you only take the usual precaustions.
Others will no doubt see I am being too alarming but I think anything to lessen a thief's expectations of what he/she could quickly grab is to be avoided - concealed is the key word IMO.
The OP who started the thread obviously cannot conceal the large camera and he/she will be more of a target for carrying something expensive IMO.
And no IME the Madrid-Barcelona problem does not exist in most Spanish towns - where you only take the usual precaustions.
Others will no doubt see I am being too alarming but I think anything to lessen a thief's expectations of what he/she could quickly grab is to be avoided - concealed is the key word IMO.
The OP who started the thread obviously cannot conceal the large camera and he/she will be more of a target for carrying something expensive IMO.
Sep 6th, 2011, 08:14 AM
#99
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about where to wear the passport - I leave mine in the hotel room if I am out and about for the day - I carry other ID. This may open a whole new can of worms but IMO the risk is greater of being robbed while I am walking around, than having the passport taken from my hotel room.
As for being in smaller cities, I feel much more at ease than in Barcelona. I still love Barcelona and have returned since my experience of being robbed on the metro, now I just carry very little with me and watch for the theives. Again, I encourage all the posters here (obviously there are alot of us who visit Barcelona) to shout out when they see these tricky people in the metro - I am waiting for the day when I see a post from someone who was heard someone shouting "thiefs" "ladrones" "WATCH OUT!"
As for being in smaller cities, I feel much more at ease than in Barcelona. I still love Barcelona and have returned since my experience of being robbed on the metro, now I just carry very little with me and watch for the theives. Again, I encourage all the posters here (obviously there are alot of us who visit Barcelona) to shout out when they see these tricky people in the metro - I am waiting for the day when I see a post from someone who was heard someone shouting "thiefs" "ladrones" "WATCH OUT!"
Sep 6th, 2011, 08:34 AM
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Barcelona is just a cesspool where the best pickpocketers in the world have found a welcome haven. I emailed the Mayor of Barcelona Office after getting pickpocketed. Two (2) Police Stations discouraged me from filing a report as they already had HUNDREDS of complaints that day. Can you imagine that? The quota had been filled already!! NO PRESENCE of SECURITY on Metro stations with gangs of pickpoketers rule over public transportation in Barcelona with free hand. So sad and tragic; such a beautiful city. I said it before: Barcelona can fell off the face of the Earth and I would NOT missed it for one second. Bad, bad memories.
