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ballinger · 05-29-2007, 11:07 AM

I have just returned from Barcelona and will never go back. There is crime in all cities, but it is absolutely rife here. I heard all the warnings and so took all necessary measures to protect myself. Unfortunately that was not enough. I was mugged at 3.30pm outside the Arts Hotel near the port just as I came out of the hotel with my boyfriend. Two young lads on a moped mounted the pavement ran straight into me and stole my handbag right out of my hands.

It took the police an hour to get to me and they did not seem concerned. When I arrived at the police station I was shocked to see the amount of tourists in the police station reporting bags and purses being stolen. One couple who had hired a car had their tyre deliberately punctured as a set up. A couple pretended to try and help and stole their bags out of the car (passports, cash, cards, camera etc).

The attitude of the police is appalling. It has become just a paper excercise so that people can go back home and claim on their insurance. They do not bother to speak to you they just give you a form to fill out, which they copy and give back to you.

They actually told me that they would not do anything about it. The interpreter said that is all he deals with all day is bag snatching and pickpocketing of tourists.

Apparently the attitude of the law is a contributing factor as even if they get caught the crime is not treated as significant and the perpetrator is let go to commit the crime again.

That probably explains why these crimes are carried out in broad daylight in such numbers.

The people at the hotel were not sympathtic or helpful at all. All I had was some cash that was in my pocket. They took all my cards and my boyfriends as his wallet was in my bag as well.

I never saw any police cars or police on foot the whole time I was there. Considering the amount of crime I would have thought that police presence would have been prominant.

I have never felt so unsafe and would have left sooner if I could have changed my flight, but as I had no cards to change my flight I had to stick it out.

05-29-2007, 11:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
ballinger Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1	Re: Barcelona crime rate I have just returned from Barcelona and will never go back. There is crime in all cities, but it is absolutely rife here. I heard all the warnings and so took all necessary measures to protect myself. Unfortunately that was not enough. I was mugged at 3.30pm outside the Arts Hotel near the port just as I came out of the hotel with my boyfriend. Two young lads on a moped mounted the pavement ran straight into me and stole my handbag right out of my hands. It took the police an hour to get to me and they did not seem concerned. When I arrived at the police station I was shocked to see the amount of tourists in the police station reporting bags and purses being stolen. One couple who had hired a car had their tyre deliberately punctured as a set up. A couple pretended to try and help and stole their bags out of the car (passports, cash, cards, camera etc). The attitude of the police is appalling. It has become just a paper excercise so that people can go back home and claim on their insurance. They do not bother to speak to you they just give you a form to fill out, which they copy and give back to you. They actually told me that they would not do anything about it. The interpreter said that is all he deals with all day is bag snatching and pickpocketing of tourists. Apparently the attitude of the law is a contributing factor as even if they get caught the crime is not treated as significant and the perpetrator is let go to commit the crime again. That probably explains why these crimes are carried out in broad daylight in such numbers. The people at the hotel were not sympathtic or helpful at all. All I had was some cash that was in my pocket. They took all my cards and my boyfriends as his wallet was in my bag as well. I never saw any police cars or police on foot the whole time I was there. Considering the amount of crime I would have thought that police presence would have been prominant. I have never felt so unsafe and would have left sooner if I could have changed my flight, but as I had no cards to change my flight I had to stick it out.