Text and photos by John Smith, exclusively for Robbed in Barcelona
Events below took place on Saturday, November 26th, 13:00hrs on Carrer Montcada, outside the Picasso Museum.
So, I’m walking home, push-chair weighed down by shopping and baby.
I pass the Picasso museum, my usual route and I navigate my way around the throng of tourists.
As I turn the corner past the museum, I notice a couple particularly obsessed with their city maps.
Now, after years of living in the Born district, I’m more than used to tourists asking the way to the Picasso museum, and equally used to giving them my disinterested but useful reply with instructions of how to get there.
But… wouldn’t it seem strange to you that a couple standing directly outside the museum, would be so studiously analysing their maps? Checking the street numbers around them? Whilst, equally meticulously, checking every person around them and the bags or belongings being carried?
I’d love to be oblivious to such behaviour, but after decades of living in central Barcelona, my sixth sense has developed in tandem.
So, my alerted “pickpocket antennae” made me stop, and observe…
Given my laiden and slightly vulnerable situation, I decide to simply take photos as they circle the guy wearing green below. Have a look at my photos, then join me below for more commentary.
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| Two move in front of the target (in green) and two behind. | They three facing this way realised they’ve been spotted. | |
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| Have a closer look. | Have a closer look at two of them. | |
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| They depart. | Fourth guy stands against the wall; intended victim in green. | |
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I’d not seen these individuals before so I hoped I was wrong, and I hoped they really were stupid tourists unable to see the building right before their eyes, or perhaps innocently planning their next visit of the day.
But no, after a few faked manoeuvres, the group of four head back into the museum, towards the souvenir shop, and then… emerge again beside an unsuspecting tourist whose bag and camera were clearly visible.
By now I’m convinced. Two move in front of the guy wearing a green jacket, and two behind, all four slowing down so as to close down the free space around the target – “the crunch”. He, still unaware of what’s going on around him, is also now separated from (I assume) his mother behind (in blue).
This is a tactic I see frequently on the metro. “How can he still be unaware of what’s happening?” I think to myself.
In the first photo you can see the four closing in on the man in the green jacket, the woman directly behind him looks down at his bag.
My brazen photography make them realise they’d been spotted. They each move away from the target, looking down at maps, taking photos or playing with their phones, trying to blend into the background again.
I take a couple more photos as they wander by, and I warn the targeted man of what has happened. Though we don’t share a common language, he understands my gestures. He is mostly bemused by it all.
I rang the police but by the end of that conversation the four were already walking down Carrer Princessa, away from the museum towards Via Laietana.
I was in no situation to follow them, as I have done on previous occasions, but within half an hour the photos were emailed to “Robbed in Barcelona” to go on the web.
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I was robbed for the THIRD time in a year. Llamame tonta I know. All three times I have been in my car. Latest was in broad daylight with the old trick at the traffic lights – guy one yanks open drivers door, guy two silently opens the passenger door while driver is being distracted. Bag gone in a second. Bag back in five mins minus phone and purse thanks to nice Argentian cyclist who followed the bastards thinking they would do what they always do. Get rid of bag fast.
This time was on Trafalgar, last time on St Pere Mes Baix, first time on Ronda st Pere. Always getting in or out of car. Lesson learnt: Close all doors, strap bag to car seat belt.
Keep alert at traffic lights. Keep alert in Barcelona basically. Stay in bed??
I did the police report in the Comissaria in the village where I live as I could not face queueing up in Via Layetana. Should I give this report to a wandering policeman outside the place I work on C/ Trafalgar?? Will they do anything?? Are there enough police on the beat???
es una pura verguenza lo que esta pasando en barcelona y sobre todo en el barrio del borne y santa catalina,vivo hace 20 años en dicha zona y lo que ve el ciudadano o vecino ¿ no lo ve la policia ?vamos raro,raro,raro,raro.no creen y siempre son los mismos de la calle carders argelinos o marroquis o sudamericanos que estan en la zona del mercado de santa catalina,el dia que algun alto mando politico o policial tengan lo que hay que tener y lo que quiere la mayoria de pueblo de hacer una redada en el barrio (calle corders,calle carders,alrededor del mercado de santa catalina,se daran cuenta de la mierda que hay en el barrio y siguen las cosas igual no trendra la excusa de decir que lo ignoran.
Portes vint anys vivint aquí i no saps que el barri es diu Born i no Borne? Que serà el següent? Plaza Calvo Sotelo? Avenida del Generalísimo? Ara, en tota la resta del que dius, Jorge, tens més raó que un sant: es una vergonya el que esta passant amb la ciutat. Amés no se si saps que aquest any estan promocionant Barcelona com a “destinació per fer compres”.
Més d’un lladre es deu estar fregant les mans. Com és pot promocionar una “ciutat de compres” on els carteristes son els reis del carrer? Quins collons. Això sí, es veu que aquest any tindrem una pista de gel, iupi.
Wow, those two are really tourist-looking motherfuckers. The fact that both of them carry a map is not realistic: it’s usually only one of the members of the couple who carries a map. This way the couple can argue beautifully about locations: gimme that fucking map, or ask someone, we’re lost again and that’s your fault as always!
@Meder: you have an interesting style. Fancy writing a comedic piece for us?
[...] bicycle – to either front- or back-follow their prey. Tactics employed at this stage will be the crunch, the free hugger, the snatch and grab (no link required), or the Ronaldinho. The Ronaldinho tends [...]