Mugged in Spain
 

While walking down a busy street in the middle of the day in Madrid a few weeks ago, a friend of mine, an experienced and enthusiastic traveller to many parts of the world, was grabbed by two men who pinned her arms behind her, smashed her face into a parked car and wrestled her purse away from her. Although she screamed and cried for help in Spanish, none of the on-lookers, locals and tourists, came to her assistance. The theives tore my friend's dress (looking for a money belt?), bruised and twisted her wrists and finally took off with her purse. Her passport and travellers' checks were in her neck pouch but she had just cashed a travellers' check for weekend money, and all of her guidebooks, maps and many personal items were in her purse. <BR> <BR>A shopkeeper directed her to the local police station, where they literally told her to get in line--there were three other tourist groups of mugging victims ahead of her, another single American, an English couple and a young French couple with a baby. While they filled out their forms, another victim came running in, a rather large and strong looking male. I'm giving these details to show that the thieves don't appear to be targeting any particular nationality or even gender. <BR> <BR>My friend travels very modestly, staying mostly in hostels, and had a wonderful time travelling in Italy last year. At the time, she speculated that perhaps she was a less likely robbery victim, as she doesn't look prosperous or perhaps even like a traditional tourist, but she noted that none of her fellow victims in Spain looked prosperous either. Since she had heard reports of pickpockets,etc in several countries, she took many precautions (for example she was told not to board a train until the last minute, as some thieves run down the aisles grabbing backpacks and jump off as the train pulls away), but despite doing a lot of research on Spain, she'd never heard or read reports of physical assaults. However, she heard many after telling her story to other travellers, and I'm posting this so others can be as informed as possible while planning their trips.

It saddens me to read about someting like this happening in such a beautiful country with great people. Your story may very well prevent somebody else's vacation from being ruined. Thank you for sharing. <BR> <BR>What did the police had to say?

Next month I will be have one day to spend in Barcelona by myself (40yrfemale) before meeting my boyfriend in the evening. I will be staying at the Caleron on the Rambla. Will it be safe for me to walk around by myself?.Any suggestions? I am usually a very independant traveler but these posts are scaring me. Thanks

Barcelona is pretty bad, worse than Madrid, although it's usually pickpocketing rather than outright assault.Be careful carrying your purse - look at what the local women do.

Yes, it is a shame. When I traveled to Europe with college friends many years ago, Spain was my friends' favorite country(I didn't get to go). The police weren't helpful at all--they just had the victims fill out some forms.

Hello, <BR>I don`t like to panic other travellers, but you really have to be careful in Spain. Five years ago in Granada they broke in our car at noon in a very lively street-right across a leather store. Our stuff was all over the place and they`ve stolen most of our luggage, no money or passports, of course, because I always carry such things with me. When I entered the store and asked in Spanish if anybody has seen the thieves, everybody shrugged their shoulders. And Maira, the police? The officer asked me if he REALLY should fill out a report? He told me that the chance to get my stuff is zero and it would be a lot of work to fill out the form. Finally he showed me a room where perhaps 30 people were waiting to get a report and told me that we were lucky, because we still have the car! <BR> <BR>To Caren, I`ve lived in Barcelona for 1 year when I was twenty. You have to be careful where you go. I wouldn`t wander around alone at night in the Barrio Alto region. Several times people have tried to steal my bag, by driving close by with those mopeds. One drives and the guy on the back tries to take your bag away. They were never successful by the way. <BR>Just use common sense and stay in areas where a lot of people are walking by. <BR> <BR>And have fun <BR> <BR>Miriam

Theft in Spain seems to have markedly worsened after the Olympics and Expo - as if all the petty criminals of Europe descended then and haven't left. Who are these people? If such crimes were committed as regularly in other places I'm sure there would be 'tourist police' patrolling, as in Italy and Egypt, where there are virtually no violent crimes against tourists. <BR>I hate to say it's putting me of going - Spain is my intended next destination.

I don't doubt any of these stories, but I wanted to point out that we just returned from 28 days in Spain and had no experiences with pickpockets, nor did we witness any. <BR> I guess we were just lucky. We certainly looked like tourists. When you are carrying water bottles and cameras, it does not matter how you dress, it is obvious you are a tourist. We did try to be very careful--we left our passports, money and airline tickets in the hotel safe, just taking what money and credit cards were needed for the day. In Barcelona, I did not carry my purse. My husband carried his money in zippered pockets of his slacks or shirts, leaving only a small amount out for quick purchases. <BR> If we had been targeted by thieves, I'm sure it would color our view of Spain, but it is a shame if tourists avoid this country, because we fell in love with it. It can be magical, and combines so many different experiences, including big cities like Madrid and Barcelona, quaint places like Avila and Segovia, historic sites like Toledo, Cordoba and Granada, and beach resorts (we visited the Costa Blanca). It can be so many things to so many people. <BR> I think a good rule on any trip would be to carry with you only what you can afford to lose. ATMs are available and easy to use, so there is no need to carry large sums of money. There is no reason to walk around with your passport. Keep your spending money and credit cards in a money belt or pouch or inside pockets to minimize the risk. When I did carry my purse, it did not have any important items, only extra film, comb, lipstick, maps, guidebook, all easily replaceable. I did not even take a wallet to Europe, only the security pouch.

i posted about being pickpocketed in rome last week. one thing i am thankful for was that there was no violence. i want to travel all over europe but this is really scary. i have heard this about spain before though.

I just got back from Spain yesterday. I had read about all the concerns about muggings there, particularly in Barcelona and was similarly concerned. We were in Madrid, Barcelona and some small towns in Castille and Aragon. One thing I noticed, as did all traveling with me, was that there seemed to be police everywhere. Especially in Barcelona. They seemed to be keeping a pretty close eye on things. We were particularly wary the whole trip, but did not encounter or see any problems. We did, however, play it safe, traveling in well lit areas, carrying all money in a money pouch in Barcelona, etc. My husband was in Madrid for a conference and there were reports of three muggings, but they were all women traveling alone at night down dark, back streets. I wouldn't travel alone down a dark street at night in NYC either. Anyway, my point is that, in the touristy areas in Spain, the police seem to be taking an aggresive stance and making there presence known. So that is good. Otherwise, just travel smart.

Barcelona is especially bad. My husband's traveler's checks were taken from an inside zipped pocket in a suburban area outside Barcelona. But, that's why you carry TCs and not cash. <BR>I would carry the minimal $$ and keep records and copies of important documents. Also, don't plan to do too much when you are jet-lagged. We resembled zombies the day we were spotted as easy prey.Despite the horrible experience of xxx's friend, most crime in Spain is petty theft. It should not discourage you from visiting a fascinating country. <BR> <BR>Michele

When I was last in Madrid two years ago, several friends who lived there were the victims of purse snatchings while they were at sidewalk cafes and another friend witnessed a brutal mugging in broad daylight on a bust street. There certainly has been a rise in violent muggings the past several years, and the police seemed generally unconcerned, unlike in Italy where they have made a concerted effort to be a presence at major tourist sites. Spain is a wonderful country, you just have to be alert.

If you people would've left me in charge, there wouldn't be these problems!!! <BR> <BR>P.S. Contrary to what Chevy Chase says, I'm NOT still dead!!!!

Returned from Spain yesterday. In Madrid while ascending from a metro station, two men came by, dropped keys near my feet, hoping to distract me. My wife and a local man scared them off. It happened so fast, it's incredible. They got nothing. It was on the stairway coming up from the Metro station Banco de Spain, where the metro ended due to construction and we had to take a free bus to continue to the bull ring. Other than that we had a grand time. Of course, the day after we left the ETA exploded a bomb near our hotel. Go figure!!

We traveled Spain from Madrid to the Costa del Sol and back and didn't have a single incident in two weeks. We very much looked like tourists, but just took the basic precautions which sometimes was a pain in the neck (like emptying the truck of our car every night). We, too, heard the warnings.While many of the above readers have certainly had some bad experiences, that shouldn't deter anyone from enjoying the pleasures of Spain. Just take precautions and remain very aware of your surroundins.

My husband and I just returned from Spain, including a 6-day stay in Barcelona. 3 of those days he was attending a conference, and I (also a 40-ish woman) went all over Barcelona alone in daylight, including La rambla, the metro, regular buses, etc. No problems whatsoever. One day I carried my purse, which I had especially bought for the trip, and which had secure double-zipper exterior and interior sections. The other day I carried an over-the-shoulder attache because I had water, a camera, etc. My husband did have an attempted pickpocket incident coming up out of the metro, but all of our important stuff was in a money belt around his waist under his shirt. <BR> this is our second trip to Spain. Someone did try to pick his pocket in Madrid years ago, but he is vigilant and there was never any violence. GO TO SPAIN, be smart, and enjoy yourself.

I lived in Madrid under "El Caudillo" (the protector) Generalisimo Franco. There was no crime of any sort then for very good reasons. When i went back two years ago, we had one attempt on my husband in Madrid but i grabbed the guy, spun him around and told him in Spanish to get out of my husbands pockets (i was a little behind my husband). In Barcelona, we had two attempts but thwarted both by being vigilant. <BR> <BR>This is the only kind of crime we heard about. Purse snatching was the most violent. I made a small muslin pouch which i tied around my waist and tucked inside my underwear. I rolled up some bills around the string tied around my waist for use during the day. Walk with determination and stay aware. The people of Spain are very upset about this crime. The people of Spain are wonderful. <BR> <BR>Remember that you must look like you would be more difficult to attack in order to avoid being "chosen."

I just returned from Barcelona - was by myself a couple times - no problems, but did have a gentleman (apparently a local) tell me to better guard my camera bag. <BR>However, unfortunately, some accquaintances of ours were victims of the "hot chocolate scam"... As they walked along Las Ramblas, two men "spilled" hot chocolate on our friend's back and then pretended that they were trying to clean it off his back. Luckily his wife figured out that they were trying to get his wallet and grabbed him and ran...

Just returned from a 3 1/2 week visit to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. We became fascinated with watching the vultures in Barcelona along La rambla. They wait for large groups to congregate to watch various acts. While you are pleasantly distracted they look for victims. For women, carry a purse under a shirt so they can't see the strap and carry passports and spare credit cards on another person or completely under your clothes. We did here of people losing their belongings, but just be aware. I did have a man tell me to close the zipper on my 35 MM camera bag as anything open was a target.