I’ve heard pick pockets are gnarly in Barcelona, anyone had any bad experiences? I’m not worried about my phone/money my pockets have buttons. More wondering about my backpack, if I set it down in eye sight at a spot will it be good or they that quick out there?
I've spent a year in Bcn, and seen a lot through it. Even locals get robbed. I have countless stories of skaters got robbed their bags with cameras. Most of the time it happens in downtown, the very touristic spots. Avoid downtown and you'll be safe.
I got 3 robbing stories for you guys:
1- Some friend going to Bcn for the first time, they've rent a full apartment for their month there (pre Airbnb), just got off the plane, get the house's keys, everybody put their luggages in the rooms. And they are deciding to visiting the city at foot, and may have a drink.
They're are coming back to the house few hours later. luggages are gone, brand new video camera, camera, money all gone.
They couldn't prove it, but the house's owner was probably into that robbing, and played that game many time before them.
2- Some friends were skating that 3 blocks at Macba, filmer and photographer was shooting him, his friends was cheering him up to land that tricks, locals and tourists was around watching it.
One more try on the block, and he twisted his ankle on it, big bummer, it was his first week there, he will be off the rest of trip.
Then he sit to get some rest, and realized that he got his bag pack stolen while he was skating, with his VX1000 in it. And nobody seen anything.
3- That one happened to myself. I was waiting for a friend at Parallel spot, we were supposed to shoot a pic at a spot, and he was late. I was sitting on the bench who are straight front of the many pad, by myself. My huge Camera bag was between my legs with contact. I was on my iPod playing cards. Javier Sarmiento and Erik J Petterson was playing a poser game on that manual pad front of me. and at least 10 skaters was around.
Then, someone tap on my shoulder behind me, I'm turning my head to him. he started to speak Spanish to me, nicely answered that I don't speak it, then speaking English, and was insisting to speak with me. It was no more than a 10sec conversation, when I turned back my head, my camera bag was gone. I've felt absolutely nothing at all.
Never seen anyone running with my heavy and big bag, nobody seen anything either.
The "shoulder taper" was running is ass off, and was already too far to get him.
My friend came at this right moment, and we've tried to found them, and it never happened.
watch out kids!