| Although Barcelona is one of the safest cities in | | | | every now and again one will win a lot of money, this |
| Europe, there are a few things to keep in mind if you | | | | convinces the mark that the game is one that can be |
| want to enjoy a crime-free holiday. The first is that the | | | | won. It can't. The winner will walk off, but within 30 |
| main thoroughfares are home to some skilled and | | | | minutes he'll be back to win again. Even stopping to |
| professional pick pockets. These people will be | | | | watch the game makes you a mark, because you'll |
| invariably well dressed, and look like business people or | | | | find yourself in a small compressed bunch of people, |
| tourists. They pick easy targets, people who have had | | | | and it's easy to pick-pocket anyone when others are |
| a bit to drink or people who are distracted by what's | | | | pressed against them. If you stop, make sure that you |
| going on around them. Don't carry your passport | | | | have empty space all around you and keep an eye |
| around with you, leave it in your hotel safe or hide it in | | | | out for people trying to move closer. |
| the Barcelona apartment that you have rented. Keep | | | | The main danger areas are Las Ramblas, the |
| your valuables secure; if you're male then the front | | | | walkways leading to the beach and all along the |
| pocket of your pants is a whole lot harder to get into | | | | beach, the beach itself, Plaza Espana, Plaza Reial, and |
| than an inside jacket pocket; if you're female | | | | Plaza Catalunya. |
| ALWAYS wear your handbag facing front, that is, | | | | Beware of scooters! A common method of theft is |
| keep it against your chest and never slung over your | | | | the use of the scooter, especially where you see a |
| shoulder behind you. When you're in a restaurant or | | | | passenger on the back. They fly past and whip bags |
| cafe keep your bag on your lap, never place it on the | | | | from shoulders. But only if you're not looking at them, |
| ground, even between you and a companion - I have | | | | so if you hear a bike behind you, always turn to see |
| personally witnessed a woman lose her handbag | | | | what's up. |
| seconds after she put it down while she answered her | | | | Finally, use your common sense. There are areas of |
| cell phone. The thief was an immaculately dressed | | | | the city that are obviously dodgy late at night, if you're |
| woman in her 30s, wearing an armani suit and looking | | | | walking alone stick to the main thoroughfares and |
| like she'd just come from a boardroom meeting. | | | | avoid the many poorly lit, narrow back streets. If |
| Watch out for scams. Three card monty is the oldest | | | | you've had too much to drink, take a cab - they're |
| con in the book, whether it's played with 3 cards or | | | | quite cheap. Always keep a sheet of paper with the |
| with 3 cups and a pea. Nobody ever wins. Nobody. | | | | address of your barcelona apartment on it, and just |
| Ever. When you see someone winning you are looking | | | | hand this to the driver when you get in. |
| at one of the conman's friends. He'll have several, and | | | | |