Gotta pick a pocket or two
Beware of pickpockets in Barcelona - the Spanish city has just been named as the ‘pickpocket capital of the world' in a new survey by travel website TripAdvisor.com, which found that the city's famous boulevard, La Rambla, was the most notorious spot for losing your valuables to those with sticky fingers...
The rating was based on the opinions of travel editors and the comments that thousands of tourists post on the site each day to recount their experiences of different elements of traveling.
The Catalan capital was ranked even worse than the Eternal City of Rome, which is known to have a severe case of pickpocketing to which thousands of visitors fall prey every year.
This is despite Barcelona having four different types of police patrolling the city.
Rome came second in the list, followed by Prague in third, then Madrid, Paris, Florence, Buenos Aires, Amsterdam, Athens and Hanoi in Vietnam.
Particularly notorious is Barcelona's well known La Rambla, which is a pedestrianised walkway bursting with restaurants, shops and pickpockets.
The TripAdvisor review said "La Rambla, the famous wide, pedestrian walkway full of life, music and people at all hours of the day and night, is the perfect place to get your purse poached."
La Rambla has never had a particularly clean-cut reputation, but restaurant owners and shopkeepers along the road have become increasingly incensed about crime and prostitution of late.
There have been renewed calls for a crackdown on both from both locals and tourists.
Here are some tips to help avoid falling victim to pickpockets:
Hide all tourist maps and guides that make you stand out as a visitor
Don't wear flashy watches, clothes, jewellery or carry expensive handbags as these will only attract unwanted attention
Turn your rings so the stones are facing your palm rather than being on show
Wear a money belt rather than keeping your wallet in your back pocket - an invitation to any robber
Don't leave your handbag under the table or draped over your seat back in restaurants or Bars - keep it in your lap instead
Make sure you leave some cash or credit cards in the hotel room safe, just in case you do fall victim to a pickpocket whilst out exploring the city.
Picture by G-Rome