Just came nack from a two week tour of Barcelona and Provence. Thought I was prepared for Barcelona and heeded all the warnings but was still pick-pocketed. Just like to highlight my folly so that others can be more aware. I was going up the escalator from the metro and at the top flight, the guy in front of me dropped his asthma inhaler and spent a few seconds trying to recover it. I was pushed up against him and was desperately trying to move away and gain balance. Next thing I knew, my wallet which was in my front pocket was nicked. Luckily I lost only a small amount of cash intended for that days spending and a credit card which was cancelled immediately. I 'm sure there are other modus operandi but just to highlight another one. What was upseting wasn't the lost cash but having to view everyone with suspicion after that. Does tend to spoil the trip.

Yow -- right out of the front pocket on a crowded escalator. That's bold. <BR><BR>Was the guy with the asthma inhaler involved, or was the pickpocket just taking advantage of an opportunity? Glad you didn't lose too much cash....

Wil, when I read your posting, it reminded me of an incident on the Paris Metro. We were entering a metro car that only had two young men on it. Thought that was great..sure to get a seat! When entering,the 2 men were exiting, except..whoops, one man dropped his wallet!! My husband being the gentleman that he is, bent over to help pick up the cards etc..that had fallen out. While doing this the other man bent over my husband and attempted to lift his wallet. His money belt was under his pants, and his front pocket had velcro, so he was unable to get our daily spending money. The bell rang to announce the metro, leaving and the two men dashed off the car. Had they gotten our money..we would have been on our way on the metro with them walking away with our $$. So, I guess you need to beware of people with the droppsies and let them pick up their own items. Live and learn!! Hope it was a great trip. What tour company did you use?

I'm sorry to hear about your experiance. We were in barcelona last Sept. Although we did not have any problems, several shop people on La Rambus warned us to be very careful, that there were a lot of pickpockets around.<BR>Regards<BR>Art<BR>

Sorry to hear about your experience.<BR><BR>Personally, to avoid this kind of thing, I never carry ANYTHING of value in ANY of my pockets, 'cause, as their name says, that's what pickpockets pick.

When they're not picking a peck of pickled peppers

*LOL* I should've known you'd pounce on that one! :~)

Well since you have a GF I can't *pounce* on you So word play must suffice

Wil:<BR>Simular thing happened to me in Rome despite all of my precautions.<BR>Capo offers the absolute correct answer. Don't carry anything in your pockets that you don't want to lose.<BR>If you listen to those who will tell you that it will never happen to "smart" people like you....Well,you know what can and does happen.<BR><BR>Gerry

*LOL* again, Sally! Une "affaire des mots", oui? <BR><BR>Thanks, Gerry. On my first few trips to Europe, even though I'd read advice in Rick Steves' books, and elsewhere, about carrying valuables ONLY in a moneybelt/pouch, I still carried a wallet in my front pants pocket, thinking this would be enough to foil the nefarious pickpocketing plans of any evildoers. But then I read a few accounts of people that had wallets, or other valuables, lifted from their front pockets and I realized that a front pocket is still a pocket...and, therefore, ripe for picking.

Capo: I found out the same thing. The hard way. And no, Sally, I wasn't "pickled".

Gerry -- I didn't mean that you were. I was just playing with Capo's post. <BR>What is so scary is that you can be on your toes, protect yourself and s*** still happens. Unbfortunately we are targets of opportunity for those who know the lay of the land better than we do.

Since I can't play with Capo

Sally; I know you didn't! I just didn't want you to feel ignored.

Re: "I was just playing with Capo's post."<BR><BR>That's funny, Sally....I didn't feel a thing. You must be as nimble as those pickpockets. :~)

Capo: Better check your valuables. She already got off the train.

When I was in Barcelona a very nice man pointed out that a bird had done his aviary duty on my back. The nice man helped me clean off the back of my jacket. The nice man even had a bottle of water and some napkins. The nice man even cleaned out my jacket pocket.<BR>Fortunately, he got only traveler's checks, which were replaced, since cash and credit cards were in the wallet.<BR><BR>The next day, someone dropped something in front of me in a crowded area. Another nice man bent down to pick it up for the dropper. I managed to grab his hand, while it was still in my pocket.

Well talk about a Freudian slip Trust me... oops better not go there

I've been pickpocketed/mugged three times in Barcelona - not through carelessness or stupidity - it's just rife in this city. Never carry much cash or credit cards in your wallet like I do and the theives won't have a very successful haul. Barcelona to me is still one of Europe's most fantastic cities!!

as much as i hate to hear pickpocket stories, it's always good to know what the favorite scams are in different cities. i didn't have any trouble in barcelona but almost lost everything in madrid...passport, money, credit cards...we were walking in the plaza del sol and there was a young couple walking behind us. the man at the hostel urged me to put my belt in my backpack because the "trick" that year was to take money belts off. (i was young and naive, i know...it was years ago) anyway, i was window shopping and caught them out of the corner of my eye. they were way too close for comfort and when i turned to look at them they turned around and walked away. i was very lucky...my backpack was unzipped...one more second and everything would have been gone!! i never ever go against my intuition anymore...money belt or passport holder stays under the clothes where it belongs!!