Foto: Chris8800
Guestpost by Eli.
I am saddened to read about all the bad experiences on this site, but heartened to see that people are not browbeaten by these scumbags.
I, too, was robbed of my bag recently.
Having first approached a policeman on a moped who just shrugged and drove off, I was advised by my hotel to go to a police station.
I had only been in town for two hours when I was robbed.
When I got to speak to an interpreter at the police station she was friendly, but it was clear that there was no interest in trying to catch anybody for the crime, or in gathering the details of my stolen cards, wallet or mobile phone.
When I suggested that my SIM was still active and hence could be tracked, she laughed and said that was a ‘stupid idea’. She later retracted that and explained that they *can* do that in remote areas outside the city, but they wouldn’t be able to identify a specific apartment within a block of flats. Silly me.
I applaud you for publishing the phone numbers that robbers ring with their newly stolen mobile phones. I am pleased to be able to offer you a list of them, which my mobile phone was used to contact on the day it was taken.
What I am appalled by is the boldness of these people. They are so unafraid of the Barcelona police and judicial system that they are willing to leave tracks. Feel free to call the numbers and tell them what you think of them. I favour a shrill whistle, myself. It’s childish, but remember that they are anticipating calls from thieves with innocent people’s details credit card and passport numbers. You may be preventing them from taking a call. The numbers happen to be Morroccan for the most part.
+212663689820
+32489348021
+212677130144
+212664959656
+212665031426
+212676723898
+212661822977
+212699783987
+32493409197
I would be happy if some law enforcement agency would actually do something with them. It is clear from what I have read and seen that it is futile to bother with the Barcelona police, as they don’t care.
These are not the numbers of other stolen phones as clearly the thieves need a reliable number to get hold of other crooks on.
As for those defending Barcelona, it is a beautiful city and I am sure that the majority of the local people are peaceful and caring, but attention must be given to this. It is NOT acceptable to simply shrug and say sorry. The city allows innocent visitors to be robbed and hurt, indiscriminately. The police know these people; they must recognise them on the streets and know what they intend to do. The only way is to deprive this city of its income from visitors until the issue is forced and they clean up the streets. Spain is in a bad economic state and if tourism fails, it will get worse. I tell anyone I know NOT to go there. Many of us live in cities and are taught to be cautious but this is extreme and out of control.
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It’s not that the police don’t care, they care very much, they care that the thieves get away with it. They are all in on it. They take commission on anything stolen in exchange for leaving well alone. There really is no police force here in Barcelona, just criminals in uniform.
I agree with you Stephen. 100%. I’ve lived in Ciutat Vella for 11 years but I’m a Londoner and as a Londoner I’m about as streetwise as you can get. I’ve seen it all and them some. Deportation for repeat offenders. End of.
Stephen, where have you heard this? Can you site an actual link or article? As someone who lives in the neighborhood where these people often steal, I want to know the truth.
While I’ve never seen any of these programmes myself, I have friends who have seen news stories where thieves will be so bold as to speak openly to the cameras about stealing stuff specifically for the mossos (iPhones and Blackberries were especially hot items). If I spoke Catalan I would be able to better look it up for myself, but I have no reason to not believe my mates.
I agree with Stephen,.. police and government are an embarressment for this beautiful city! The ‘ayuntamiento’ and mayor don’t seem to be able to tackle the problem… or don’t care either. Robbers get more protection here then actual decent shop owners trying to survive. They get fined for crazy stuff like a door that is open to the street or lights that are not within regulation.. while robbers get all the freedom they need. Yes they get arrested,.. but the same day they get to leave and start all over again.
I see a growing group of people who’ve had enough of this bulls*it,.. trying to catch robbers themselves,.. I don’t know what will happen if they do… Surely not something desirable in this beautiful city.
Rambla is a very beautiful place in Barcelona. Located at the downtown, it starts at Catalunya square and reaches the port. But it is also sorounded by a not safe area. As Spanish who has lived there for several years, I suggest to avoid Rambla and the sorounding area at night (even ATMs are closed at night, there). Robbers know that the area is plenty of tourists who enjoy with the atmosphere there, especially young Moroccan under eighteen, and some of them homeless.
There are a lot of police agents in that zone, but the problem hasn’t been solved.
Now that’s a dark comment…. & one that I’ve heard before but always filed alongside conspiracy theorists who claim that martians working for the CIA were responsible for the 9/11 etc….
Can you expand on this one a bit…?
I lived in Barcelona in 2010 for 6 months, I was never successfully pickpocketed or robbed although there was many attempts. Awareness is the best possible defence, watch all around at whats going on at all times.
In fact, I was back in Barcelona for a holiday last week and on returning from the pub with my partner and her father, we were approached by 2 pickpockets (i recognize them now before they approach) I decided to approach towards them to defer them from my partner and her father and I put my hand up and said messi,messi,messi (the ronaldinho/messi/las ramblas dance method).After I done this to him, I picked a set of keys out of his pocket and threw them on the ground, I walked off and they were left standing there somewhat bewildered.
Dont go to Barcelona .I have been literaly mugged on a train by four men young daughters pushed out of way before the scum jumped off the train at a unmanned station.They just wait for someone to mug the minute you buy a ticket.