We were BOTH Robbed in Madrid (and how not to be)
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- čas přidán 14. 05. 2024
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After 12 years of proudly not falling prey to pickpockets and sleight of hand in Madrid, it finally happened. To both of us! 😭 Here's what happened and how to avoid it happening to you.
To file a police report in English, call 902 102 112 (Mon-Fri, 9am-9pm).
Call 112 for emergency services in Spain.
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Hola, Spain lovers! We're James and Yoly. James is a New Zealander, and Yoly is from Spain. We both live in Madrid. Our channel gives you a local insight into life in Spain and helps you experience this country like a local when you come to live (or visit!).
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⏩ CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
02:13 James' robbery
06:48 Yoly's robbery
09:21 James' experience with the police
11:55 Yoly's experience with the police
13:30 How we felt after the robberies
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I suspect you title should read "and how not to be" instead of "and how now to be"
"How not to be", before people start making snippy comments! Great video as always.
Definitely the right thing to do to make the video. I want real world not glossy Instagram views of cities!
Thank you for sharing the video. Not cool that good people like you have had their items stolen.
1st mistake, drinking alcohol. 🙄
I follow what I call "The Baby Rule" with my gear. Never leave your gear where you wouldn't leave your baby. (This, of course, assumes you love your baby.)
Good rule...my bag with passport was stolen from my car while I was having lunch in a cafe... wouldn't have left a baby in the car!
HaHa! That’s. Great rule. Unfortunately I got robbed because I was following “The Wife Rule…” 😂
😂😂😂
Great tip. I apply it too! Don't have any, so you don't have to drag them around.
Good criteria 👍💯
Another tip is to be VERY aware when someone approaches you to get your attention in any way, because they often work in pairs/teams, where another person removes your belongings when you are distracted by the first person.
Me and my wife fell victim to a trick a few years ago. My one and only experience of crime is Spain. We were sitting at a table outside a cafe in Alicante and a guy came up to us and asked us where the beach was. I was suspicious because the beach was just around the corner and hardly difficult to find. Also he was wearing a suit so was hardly dressed for the beach. I also noticed he wasn't Spanish as he made a mistake in his Spanish. He said ¿dónde es la playa? instead of ¿dónde está la playa? I told him where the beach was and he left. A few minutes later my wife realised her bag was gone. It was the old distraction trick. One person comes and talks to the victim and distracts them whilst the accomplice steals the bag.
Just be aware , don’t be paranoid
That sounds a bit like what like what someone tried on my parents a few years ago in the Costa del Sol fortunately they saw that the person was trying to distract them. As you say be aware of this sort of thing.
I guess you can't have it all, show-off you expensive belongings in the front seat and not paying attention at the same time. Unless you are a pițipoancă belonging to a Russian oligarch.
Spain always had petty theft wit Gypsies but Spain is becomes more multiracial and multicultural and so crime is going up.
The beach is a permanent location of a place, so “es” is correct. “Esta” is used to describe the location for things that can be moved.
You guys should visit Japan. My wife left her phone on the bus. After calling the bus company I was informed that I could just pick up the phone at their office. A friend also dropped his wallet on the streets. After being told to check the nearest police station lo and behold someone picked it up and left it at the police station cash and credit card all intact. You can leave your stuffs behind and either it's still there when you go back or someone took it to the lost and found.
Same with Thailand. Lost 1,300 and passport and a man ran up to me saying “ma’am you lost your wallet. I gave him a huge tip which he was reluctant to take. Boy, Americans have a lot to learn from the east
Yes in japan someone left their shopping bag on train. Everyone walked around and left it intact. Leaving it to be retrieved by owner or the train conductor to leave it in lost and found. Only in japan will honesty prevail
Yes, there’s a reason Japan is so safe, right? It’s always the same gangs from the same parts of Europe who are up to such shenanigans. I’m Maltese, when I was young there was almost zero petty crime in Malta. Pickpocketing was unheard of. Ever since we joined the EU though?
How many gypsies and moroccans in japan?
I just returned from Japan. I was in a busy cafe and left my $700 cell phone on the table while being in the bathroom. I went back 5-10 minutes later, and the phone was untouched. Amazing country!
When I was walking through El Retiro my first time, I recall a man on a bicycle riding by me and saying zip your purse. It made me realize I needed to take it more seriously than I was.
In Seville, I swung the same purse to my back to lean over and in that moment the only person on the road with me took my phone. I didn't notice for about 30 seconds, but then I took off running and punched her shoulder (which I regret) and she turned around. I yelled telephone extremely loud and she dropped her hand down and it slid down her sleeve and she gave it back. I am grateful things worked out the way they did. Just like that, I went on with my life and kept my purse in front of me AND zipped.
Hope this never happens to you again.
what she a gypsy ? many spaniards are the same as gypsies, you can't tell the difference. The joy of being a thief and thinking nothing will happen to me.
My wallet was snatched here in Barcelona a year and a half ago. I legged it home and cancelled all my cards. A couple of weeks later a supermarket manager called my wife and said someone had handed it in and they had found her details from the loyalty card. When she picked it up she found the contents hadn´t been touched....
So you lost your wallet it wasn't snatched
Same happened to me in Girona last year. I lost over £1500 worth of stuff and my passport after talking to a guy that sat on the bench next to me. Whan I called the police they put me through to the English speaking service. I explained what had happened and they laughed and hung up the phone. I spent the next day hanging round the square where it happened and spotted the guy with my bag (who now pretended he didn't speak English). I confronted the guy (with his 2 accomplices), and it ended up in a 3 on 1 brawl - until staff from a local Spar came out to break it up. I got my bag back but all that was left was my passport which was still inside the hidden pocket. It seems that these local town squares are a magnet for this type of scum. After spending a few months in Spain I got adept at spotting them. The thief usually has a couple of lookouts in and out of the square, they will start chatting to you, get overly friendly, then as soon as they rob something they signal to their mates and pass on what they have lifted within seconds. They then play dumb if you notice something missing. I witnessed another tourist getting robbed in the middle of Barcelona but managed to shout and alert them to what was happening. I now take my personal space very seriously when I am over there, anyone getting to close I ask politely to back up (in Spanish) - and if that doesn't work I find "Vete a la mierda, ladrón" usually does the trick.
I was robbed while on the bus in Barcelona on my first week of my 7 week solo backpacking trip across Europe. Luckily I did a ton of research and made sure to have credit card and a debit card left at my hostel locker as a backup and that saved me. Lesson learned. I’ve been extra cautious since. This was such a helpful segment for people to be aware of what not to do and what to expect if you get robbed. I can’t imagine having to lose 10k worth of stuff 🤦♀️.
Sorry to hear that. Barcelona is a black hole of crime and authorities seem incapable of doing anything. It's really depressing.
@JuneK618 - sorry you had to go through that.
How were you robbed? Was it a distraction scam, sleight of hand pickpocket, or something else?
Thanks for the tipp. I plan a two day trip to Madrid. I only will have like my passport with me and 50€ . The last things in my Hotel. It worked great in Warsaw. I just wonder if I will be able to sleep on the 5h Traintrip to Sarraia😂
This happens in every major city. I've seen countless videos on TikTok of robberies and pickpocketing in London, Paris, Rome, NYC, Milan, Amsterdam, Dublin and many other cities.
Mostly Western cities. This will not happen in Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, etc. it’s even rare in Switzerland, Denmark or Austria.
Esto está sucediendo desde la entrada de ilegales a España.
Not just in major cities, either. Many smaller towns and rural areas have big issues with crime because of the lack of jobs there. I am from the Rust Belt and I feel safer in the middle of Chicago.
@@Zergcerebrates In shanghai happens all the time, I've lived there 4 years lmao
@@markus129 you keep forgetting the millions of refugees...
I’ve lived in Madrid a year and always felt safe. Just moved coincidentally right near Tirso De Molina, and within days of moving my backpack was robbed while I sat at a cafe…on my way to the airport 😩 so I lost my passport, laptop, nearly everything I planned to travel with. Thanks for this video though, it’s important to keep in mind this shit can happen to anyone
Sorry for your lost James, and thanks for sharing your experience. This video should go viral.
We were mugged in Barcelona years ago and it was wild what they did. It was myself, my husband and a male friend walking together in broad daylight on a Sunday. This group of kids came behind me and attempted to rip my bag from me. I had it cross body style and it didn’t come free. It all happened so fast that my husband when into defense mode. I shouted to him that they didn’t get anything but they had a fight. They scattered quickly but did get away with my husbands nice sunglasses. The nerve of them to try to steal when I had two tall strong men with me… it was bizarre. Now, we live in Valencia, and I always carry my bag cross body and always have my hand on it in crowed areas.
"Menas", Menores No Acompañados, de Marruecos en su mayoría...
Kick their a$$
Hi Amanda I see you are a traveller and explorer,I live in Valencia too and have a podcast about people's stories their travel, hobbies and passions I wonder if you would be happy to be a guest on my podcast All bout you Sheila West
Barcelona is the last place in spain u want to visit. So much crime
Same thing happened to me but in London (by very stupid Arabic teenagers). I followed them and caught them. Can you believe they told me to go back to my country 😂😂😂😂(USA!) so I responded in-a-not-so-nice-manner
My girlfriend, who's Spanish, has had her wallet/bag snatched 4 times in Madrid. Once in the metro, once in a public swimming pool, and twice in bars. It happens to the best of people. We still feel Madrid is perfectly safe, but I have made her stop wearing that "Please, rob me!" sign.
Was it the native Spaniards or people not native that did it?
@@GhostSal A mix, though we didn't stop to ask them. Why is it relevant?
@@davidskytte That wasn’t a question about race but more about cułture. I have family in Spain, so I was curious.
@@davidskytte Because of organized crime. It's been happening and increasing since the 90s in France amd then, throughout most UE countries. Some eastern countries, mostrly Romania or Moldavia, clan heads actually rent apartments in big cities like Paris or Madrid, where about 20 people live, people who spend their days pickpocketing, and later give the proceeds to the leader. So there's actually two victims: the people who lose their posessions, and pickpocketers themselves who most of the times are coherced to act/"work" that way. Hence the importance ofknowing the nationality.
So sorry to hear you both were robbed, let us know if the police ever track you're gear. Thinking this was very kind of you to share a friendly reminder with tourists season just starting. Lucia looks adorable, she's growing so quickly. Thanks again, hope to see you soon!
Catalana living in New York here, I would never ever ever , pit my phone on top of anything publicly or not have my purse attached to my body somehow . Never been robbed there after nearly 30 yrs . Sucks it happened to you but don’t ever part bodily from your belongings , no matter where you are in t he world .
Really sorry to hear about your bad experience and at least the two of you were safe... Thanks for sharing as it's a really good reminder for someone like us who are gonna travel to Madrid this Saturday for the first time...
First, I'm glad you're both safe. Very scary experience.
We were broken into about 10 yrs ago in England. Our TV, my husband's ipad & some money from my teen daughters bag was stolen. A few months later a lady rang to say she'd bought an ipad with my husband's name & phone number on the screen. Could we help her unlock the ipad 😮 I took her name & phone number & said my husband would call her after work. Then called the police. About 3 months later we got the ipad back. Thieves were never caught.
I hope you'll get your things back. But stay safe!
Yes, it is too common in large cities. I was robbed in Milan 3 years ago and was surprised to find that no one gets involved. It goes without saying, that when this occurs it is necessary to first cancel all credit cards that were taken and secondly, fill out a report at the closest police station before leaving the city where it happened. You will need a copy of that report to get a temporary passport.
My phone was stolen on a crowded bus in Rome. I was told alot of gypsies or refugees target tourists.
No point going to the police, unless you have some sort of influence they are not going to bother
@@wendyleung6469 It is a racial stereotype many Italians perpetrate, but the reality is the Gypsies almost all work in some criminal trade of some kind. Nobody in Italy will hire one, so there are no jobs for Gypsy (Romanis). Yes, if you sit at a popular tourist destination like Piazza de Popolo you can watch them operate. When the bus deposits a crowd of Japanese tourists (or German or Chinese), there will be middle aged guys in grey suits who were standing in the corners or behind flower pots that move in to pickpocket the trailers and edge people. The kids are always carrying a piece of cardboard asking for handouts and when they crowd you (they work in pairs and triples) the cardboard hides the hand that is reaching into your pocket.
@@bdh711 You may need the police report to give to the credit card companies. The report will say when you were robbed and where. So they should not bill you for any charges after your card was stolen. By the time you are able to report the stolen card to the credit card company, the thief could have used the card at some stores or used on line.
When in bars I don't know I have an old 'fake' wallet that I place next to me with nothing but junk inside.
If it ever 'disappears', I tell the bar staff there's a thief and leave.
Mostly these people will leave when they score something though, so even if they aren't around to face the music it's an efficient way of getting rid of them.
Only had to replace the old wallet about 4 times in 5 years though.
When I travel with a backpack, I always put my leg through one of the arm-straps if I set it on the floor. As tourist, one of the things we have to “pack” is our situational awareness.
What a shame this happened to you both and weird that each theft happened so close to the other. These were extremely important items so I am sorry for the loss. How you described feeling is shared by me since I had my own version of a crime happen recently. You do feel dumb and vulnerable. You have definitely done a service to your audience by giving others the steps to protect yourself and what to do if it happens. La Policia Nacional in Valencia, where I had to submit my report, were true professionals and very thorough in their report of my theft. Your advice to be aware but not paranoid is an excellent one.
After experiencing the unfortunate loss of camera equipment in Madrid during a four-year stay at Torrejon Air Base over two decades ago, I'm looking to take another 14-day visit this October. As safety is paramount for any traveler - especially those more mature - I am grateful for your videos like these that remind us how best we can protect ourselves against potential dangers while on our journey!
That’s such a pity and I’m sorry that happened to you guys! Such bad luck and I hope you are able to recover the photos etc. Thanks for the super informative video especially after such a bad experience.
Thanks for your video and thanks to all who commented and described their situations❤ I think your stories will help many people.
Wow. So sorry to hear. We were in the famous tapas bar street in Madrid (can't remember name) and someone asked us for change of a bank note. This guy was professional, pointing at our wallet but by slight of hand stole EUR200. We didn't realise until later when it was time to pay at the tapas bar. Then an afternoon at the police station to report it for insurance - that wasn't fast but we got the report. We didn't let it spoil the trip but we could have done without it. Hope these experiences help people remain vigilant.
Your videos are terrific. All my family is in Spain, but I grew up and live in the States. (Parents met at Torrejon Air Force base and mom moved back to Madrid 25 years ago.) Growing up I only went to Spain a couple of times, but now my husband and two kids (22 and 25) visit my 94 year old mom at least twice a year. I use your videos to educate myself about Madrid. It’s clear that you both love the City as much as I do. Thank you both very much for all you do. P.S. I think this video captures what my mom and every one of my tias have been saying all my life about Madrid: “Don’t be afraid, be careful. Go enjoy Madrid safely.”
Sorry to hear about the robbery. It is preventable as you outlined in your video. Thank you for raising awareness. I also travel all over the world with expensive gear often $10K USD in value and I made the effort to buy a PacSafe backpack for this prupose. I highly recommend this bag because it is a wiremesh bag that cannot be cut into and can be locked. Also, it enables you to secure the bag to a table or other firm object so that it cannot be removed so easily. Its like a personal safe. Anyway, thats my 2 cents worth of advice. Cheers!
I use a PacSafe fanny pack, strapped around my waist or crossed like a messenger bag-game changer! Also, booze and keeping belongings safe don’t mix, soooo--preventable 💯
I'm going to use your code when I start Lingoda soon to get my Spanish in working order. This video, like all of your videos, was really helpful as my family and I are going to Spain in a few months. Gracias por todo!
So sorry to hear. Great to see you but unfortunate circumstances. I’ve travelled a lot and learned many a lesson. Take care all
From California- Was in Madrid last week, got my phone pick pocketed the second day on my 2 week trip. I was so vulnerable without it. Didn’t know where I was, how to get around, or what to do. I admit I cried haha. I ended up having to buy a new phone there but it left me with half my funds for my whole vacation. I love Spain, love the Spanish. Don’t like the pick pocket situation.
I’m so sorry to hear about this, happy you both are safe. My fiancé and I have been watching your videos for a few months now. We will be in Madrid for our 1st time ever on Friday. Spending 9 days between Madrid and Barcelona before heading off to our wedding in Venice. Your content and hard work has inspired our Spain trip in so many manners. Thank you for all the insight and assistance. Even when the videos may be difficult to communicate given the negative nature of some topics such as theft.
Goodnight
Dear Anthony Tharp
I am portuguese and I know some Spanish cities including Madrid, both Spain and Portugal at the time of the dictatorships of Franco in Spain and Salazar in Portugal, they were very safe countries, theft practically did not exist, so "democracy" was instituted in 1974 in Portugal and in 1975 in Spain and these countries have become a nest of thieves.
I myself have already had 2 robberies on the street, one inside an establishment I own and this establishment has already been robbed 3 times at night, my residence has already been robbed once and my car was stolen in April 2021, it appeared a year later everything destroyed , they gave me 50 euros for it in scrap metal.
Do not believe in the security of these countries today, this is just propaganda to attract tourists, every year thousands of tourists are the target of robberies and other more serious crimes.
Drugs, gangs and lots of immigrants made this place dangerous.
Oh! I am 72 years old, so I have reason and knowledge to speak.
Yours sincerely.
Great Video! We've been robbed 3 times in Spain in 23 years. 1st at the steps of the royal palace in Madrid, 2 guys tried to steal my girlfriend's handbag by distracting us with map/direction questions but my girlfriend clocked one who had approached from behind. He quickly had her bag in hand, was 20 paces away when he was spotted. Girlfriend saw red and ran after him, I ran around to the other steps and we cornered him. He was trapped, freaked out at the angry Scots woman shouting (LoL) and dropped the bag in a panic. Nothing lost. 2nd time window smashed on my old landrover parked at the FIRA in Barcelona, stereo gone, annoying but no big deal. 3rd time we were mugged at the train station at Castelldefels on the way back from Sitges, three people trapped us between the train door and the platform as the doors opened for us to step on. That last event was scary because they were trying to push us under the train before it moved on and they grabbed my wife's purse, cash, cards, ID cards etc. Luckily she had her phone and passport separate from the bag and within 45 seconds (yes only 45 seconds!) of the robbery she started getting transaction notifications from the bank to her mobile. Even though we were very shaken managed to cancel all cards within a few minutes. Have been all over Spain and always feel very safe but you have to be careful in hot spots, especially Barcelona area and never confront anyone robbing you there. Just let them have what they're after as some people have been seriously injured or worse confronting robbers in recent years. I would never repeat what we did in Madrid to get her handbag back almost 20 years ago. Times have changed. Having said all that, I feel safest in Spain than I do in most other countries I travel to (usually for work) and petty crime is everywhere, just use your common sense.
thanks for the story. the sites mugging is scary... may i ask if the criminals spoke "arabic" ?
I was robbed in Madrid and Barcelona. Now I live in Andalucía since 5 years and feel completely secure. Never heard of a friend being robbed in this area of southern Spain
LOL... 😁😅😂
You never don't leave of house, I know several Portuguese people (I'm Portuguese and I live in Portugal), who were robbed in these areas...
You are a lucky one!!!
😸😹
It does happen there my family used own a property in the Costa del Sol. Somone tried to use the distraction technique on my parents they saw knew this scam. There were a couple of attempts to break into the gated community where the property was my Dad spoke to mananging agents who sent reminders to the property owners to remind them and any guests who use their properties about being vigilant ahead of the summer tourist season.
nobody steals in andalucia, people are poor there, watcha gonna steal??!!
@@davidepattibiomed89 wealthy foreign tourists are you don't what your talking about
13:42 Never, ever fell that way, NEVER. We should be free to take out belongings with us, whenever and wherever we want. You and Yoli are not wrong ones in this story. I’ve been so much (much) worse in Brasil, I know exactly how you feel! 😔 and one big mistake that people now believe in Brasil is exactly that, you can’t wear or take anything with you, because if you do you are “asking to be robbed” (in Brasil, robbers may take your life for a pair of shoes, a phone, a watch, sunglasses, hats, cameras, yes!) I will not tell my stories (yes plural) but I am glad to be alive! PLEASE. NEVER EVER think that this is normal. It is not, it starts small, with JUST a phone.
I understand that, but sadly almost nowhere in the western world can you do this. UK, USA downtown areas, France, Spain big cities.
Interestingly thieving is not common in India where the crowd beats the thief, and also in China, you can walk on any street anytime with a gold Rolex, no one will ever touch you.
Western lost it basic moral.
A very balanced video with an important message. thank you and sorry for your loss of items. I've lived in a major city for the past 35 years so many concepts are not foreign to me, but need to be refreshed.
I'm French Canadian. On my first trip in Europe in 2005, I had just arrived in Brussel, Belgium. I was sitting on a bench looking at the settings of my camera when a guy call me and point at something. I look and see noting. A few minutes later I realise that my daypack is no longer beside me. In it, I had my passport, airplane ticket to go back home, 400 Euros and many other things. I filed a police report so I could make a claim to my insurance and I had to spend a few days to get back a new passport, airplane ticket (it was still printed at the time) but I guess that the most annoying for the trip was that I lost my guide book where I noted all the places that I wanted to visit.
Since then, I never had anything stolen, but I caught in the act thief twice trying to make me a target of their trade with their hands in my pocket, once in Prague and once in Lisboa. I'm aware that as a tourist, I carry a big target on my back, having a camera, speaking a foreign language identify me quite easily. Thief know that tourist carry lots of valuables and since they have limited time for their vacation, they are less susceptibles to go to the police and spend many hours there to fill a report.
Always be aware of your surrounding and the people close by, if you see someone getting closer in a crowd without reason, move away. As much as possible, try to blend with the locals (hard to do when you carry a camera, but I take it out of my pack just when I'm ready to shout). Don't be paranoid, but vigilant.
Back in the early 80s I visited New York City for the first time, and my local friend switched out my sunglasses for his dark ones to cover where I was looking, scuffed up my brand new black boots, helped me plan my day and subway stops before leaving the apartment, and told me I wasn’t allowed to look up at the skyline unless I was with him. By the third day, tourists were asking me directions on the subway. Agree that blending in is the best tactic!
Madre mia, que jaleo…lo siento para vosotros. Tenemos que estar súper atento cuando volveremos en junio. Gracias por el aviso amigos!
I used to live in NYC and I was never robbed. On a trip to Spain, we got the subway in Sol and off in Opera, when we got off in Opera, we noticed two guys kind of profiling us, we allow the train to come in and walked down to the middle car which in NY is the conductor car, we got in but somehow, they also got in. At some point in time we felt someone reaching on my friend's backpack. She screamed and curse and we were able to have two good samaritans who got one of the guys and recovered her wallet. It happens, and it should not turn you into a hermit or hater, just be careful and use your city wits. So long and good Luck Alfredo
I've lived in the NYC area all my life and currently work in Manhattan. I've never been robbed while in New York either. NYC is not nearly as lawless as Fox News and talk radio like to pretend it is. The only people who have problems in NYC are either totally clueless or are looking for trouble.
Thank you folks, this is incredibly informative! My wife and I absolute love Spain and were blown away by the architecture, art, history, culture and cuisine on our last trip. We visited Barcelona, Madrid, Segovia, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Jerez as well as number of the smaller hill towns in Andalucía. All the people we met were so friendly and wanted us to have a good experience as tourists. We are so looking forward to our next visit. While our trip was flawless, we took many precautions including wearing our pouches in front of us. This is just a great reminder of how easy it is to just be a bit careless and have an experience ruined. On this one occasion I was a bit careless. I believe it was in plaza Mayor in Madrid, I placed my DSLR on a restaurant table, the waiter with great concern and politeness warned me against displaying such rich target in plain sight.
BTW, we were in Rome, at the Railway station on another trip, when a family in the same lineup as us had a back pack stolen. The most shocking thing is that there were serval people in the lineup (besides us and the family) and no one noticed and everyone shaken after the experience. The common sense tips shared in the video are priceless and will go a long way in have a positive experience.
Thank you for the good practical advice on avoiding theft during travel but also it would apply in your local environment too as you found out. That feeling you have after having personal items taken is certainly upsetting but it is easy to become complacent until it happens to you. Appreciate the video especially as the travel season picks up.
After having lived in Madrid for a year, and Spain overall for 3.5 years, I've never been robbed on felt like I was going to be robbed, but I definitely felt like it could have happened had someone been looking out for when I let my guard down like you described, James. These are phenomenal tips for anyone visiting or living in Spain, so it won't happen to you. It's also really crazy to hear about the Spanish police said to Yoly, although maybe not super surprising...
Thanks guys, and I'm glad you've never been robbed in Spain!
Sorry to hear that, I know someone who got robbed in Madrid not long ago; they were wearing a backpack also. I travel to Madrid often too and on my last visit to there in November last year; I had thieves try to rob me on three separate occasions unsuccessfully (this hadn't happened at all on previous visits.) I held firmly onto my possessions and shouted at them in the few words I know of Arabic (the language the thieves were talking in.) Take extra care in areas popular with tourists and at public transport hubs; especially the area around Atocha railway station.
I’m sorry this happened to you both. This was helpful. Thank you.
I'm sorry for these robbery misfortunes. Thanks for your decision to share it, and I will be more cautious, after a warning from a Madrid native and a veteran resident. I've so enjoyed so many of your videos.
Thank you!
In nearly 4 decades of World travelling (been to Madrid many times and love it) I only got robbed once and that was on the Athens metro. It was a classic distraction technique where at our stop some guy pretended the door was jammed and was trying to prise it open. I was agitated watching as I needed to get off but meanwhile an accomplice had unzipped my backpack and helped himself to my wallet (thankfully my iPhone was deep in my front pocket). I realised what had happened almost immediately and as soon as I was at street level I telephoned my bank to stop the cards and no money was lost (apart from about €70 in cash). It occurs to me that in these days of contactless payments that your typical wallet will contain far less cash than in years gone by (which your average street thief must be noticing).
I felt super safe when I went to Spain a few weeks ago. Madrid was awesome and there were cops everywhere. It’s a shame that happened to you. I am so happy both of you are safe!!
Spain is super safe for people (for the most part), just not for iPhones and laptops 😜
It's not that its unsafe. It's just there are pickpockets and thieves who steal sneakily, different from US.
@@vitasoy1437 That’s not safe from crime.
@@jiminswriter4209 True, but in spain... its more like you are "safer" if you appear to be extremely cautious on your phone, belongings and surroundings compared to in US, you get robbed even if you are cautious of your surroundings coz people have guns.
@@therealtuliphahahha so true… I had a welcome experience when moved to Madrid.. bye bye my Iphone
Thank you so much for sharing! Won’t stop us from visiting but at least now we know to remain aware at all times never let your guard down even after a few drinks
Great presentation. Thanks!!!!!
Good to know.
I will be travelling to Madrid this summer for 2 months. Might, great to
see you!!
So sorry to hear that this happened to you. It can happen anywhere but especially in busy cites. I think you have to be careful about your behaviour too. The chances are that this was not an opportune thief. They had probably spotted you using an expensive camera and having a few drinks. Cites are full of so many more distractions too. I hope your insurance claims are successful.
Thanks for sharing the video - you made the right call; balancing awareness and safety so that visitors can have the best experience! Double thanks for sharing the number for the English language police reporting. BTW - In 2018 my wife and I replicated your 8 stop Barcelona tapas tour - it was a highlight of our trip. We are heading back to Barcelona next week and were considering trying to repeat the experience. It looks like Bodega Maestrazgo may have changed their business model. Would you still recommend them and if not, is there a comparable bodega nearby that provides a similar experience? Thanks again - we really enjoy the videos - keep them coming!
Thank you for sharing your story. Sorry for what happened for you. Be safe, Chaos.
I traveled Central America a number of years ago and QUICKLY learned that anything not tied directly to your person is not going to be yours for very long. In Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Belize, Mexico and ESPECIALLY Columbia anything left in the hotel room is probably NOT going to be there upon return. Even the shampoo bottles are pilfered.
When sitting anywhere public your leg belongs THROUGH the straps of your backpack BETWEEN YOUR LEGS.
Coming back to America - my habits did not change. Now I am paranoid everywhere I go.
Great watch as always 👊🏿.
I don't think the video is fear mongering at all. I think for everyone it's better to be safe and cautious than sorry. Because it could happen to anyone, even if the odds are low.
Keep up the great work
I am so sorry this has happened to you and Yoly. It's a feeling of violation when this happens. Thanks for doing this CZcams, it is a wake-up call for me when I visit Malaga in September.
LOL
SAFETY??? 😁😂🤣
You joke with me???
😸😹
Nice and educational video James! Sorry for the loss though!
sorry this happened to you x it is a sad fact that some are unkind in this world. We have just returned from Pestana plaza Mayor (plaza view) and we also downloaded your guide which was a massive help . . . . It gave us the confidence we needed - we walked around as if we knew the area well, thanks to you guys Highlights of the tapas was La Concha and so was Tonis (and our favourite Casa Alberto).
I must tell everyone that I dropped my wallet just outside Plaza Mayor arches and walked for about three minutes until a local came running up to me to return it - they had been searching the stamp and coin stalls (Sunday morning) looking for me ! I hope that this does restore some faith that there are decent people.
Hi! I lived in Madrid for many years and fortunately I never suffered a robbery, possibly because I have always followed many of your tricks, I think that if someone follows those tricks they will never have any problem of robberies in any Spanish tourist city. What happened to me many years ago in a restaurant was that when paying with a credit card, the waiter took the opportunity to take the card details and later impersonate my identity. Fortunately, for many years it has been mandatory that when paying by card in restaurants the waiter wears the dataphone to your table and I charged you in front of you.
I never got robbed during my 12 years in Madrid, but I did get my bag stolen in Torrevieja. My fault for changing tables and leaving my bag hanging on the previous chair!
I think your English translation is off. El camarero lleva el datáfono would be “the waiter *carries* the credit card machine to your table”.
@@goldvideo You're right😄👍 Better this way. Thank you!
Sorry that happened to you both but thankful that you weren't hurt! I think many of us who subscribe to your channel consider ourselves seasoned travelers but that fact that it happened to you is a reminder that it could happen to ANYONE. And like others have said, this is not only a 'Madrid' problem...stay aware, stay safe and enjoy your travels, everyone! Thanks for sharing, James and Yoli!
Yes! I just saw a video about a doctor who got his watch stolen in Barcelona and he and his wife were roughed up a little, too, unfortunately. Luckily for him, one of the robbers ran off, with one shoe on a razor scooter, turned the corner and literally ran right into a cop who thought he looked suspish and found the doctor's watch in his pocket. I got pickpocketed in Dublin just after we had gotten off the plane, so being awake for 30 some hours at that point, was not at my most alert, lol. But like James, I felt SO stupid for letting my guard down. My wallet was stolen with half of the cash for our trip and my credit cards. They had unzipped my backpack and my purse and taken the wallet, but not my phone or passport, thankfully. But lesson learned for when we went to Paris and now for Spain in a few months.
@@cookbookworm
Goodnight
I am Portuguese and I know some Spanish cities including Madrid, both Spain and Portugal at the time of the dictatorships of Franco in Spain and Salazar in Portugal, they were very safe countries, theft practically did not exist, so "democracy" was instituted in 1974 in Portugal and in 1975 in Spain and these countries have become a nest of thieves.
I myself have already had 2 robberies on the street, one inside an establishment I own and this establishment has already been robbed 3 times at night, my residence has already been robbed once and my car was stolen in April 2021, it appeared a year later everything destroyed , they gave me 50 euros for it in scrap metal.
Do not believe in the security of these countries today, this is just propaganda to attract tourists, every year thousands of tourists are the target of robberies and other more serious crimes.
Drugs, gangs and lots of immigrants made this place dangerous.
Oh! I am 72 years old, so I have reason and knowledge to speak.
Yours sincerely.
Thank you both for this great video :) I was robbed in Sevilla - right beside the cathedral last year. The first time after over 40 years. Like You both say, I felt sad and vulnerable. My learnings are to leave everything in the safe, where ever this is! And be very careful with credit cards in phone cover slots! If the phone is gone you'll better own a second cell phone to block the credit card immediately! Only take the absolute neccessary things on you! I also spend much to much time in the police station but it was suturday, so never mind!
Thank you for sharing your stories!
I've never been robbed probably because I grew up in NYC in the 70s when crime was rampant. I lived in Barcelona for 10 years. Never even came close to being robbed. BUT all my friends got robbed many more than once. Finally I figured it out. Every single time they were out drinking. Thieves target bars and drinkers. If you're talking and animated even worse. I went out too but never drank as much as my friends. I always kept aware. I don't like to get drunk anyway.
So sorry this happened to both of you! I'm confused about Yoly's loss of contacts and content. If it was all in the cloud, she should still have it. That's why one stores data in the cloud instead of keeping it on the phone. Wishing you luck and a good tech-minded friend to help you get all that data onto your next phone.
That’s a great advised …. “Be smart but not paranoid “…we are ready to go on our trip to Italy and Greek islands and my son is definitely paranoid, which makes me sad thinking he is not going to enjoy the trip . I have been before and even thought we did have people approaching us ( my husband and ) begging , nothing happened and we had a great time in Italy , let’s pray this time will be the same 😊
This needed to be said thank you for the information ℹ️
Such great advice! It's odd, when I lived as a student in Madrid when I was 20(eons ago!) I never felt unsafe. I don't think I even knew about pickpockets at that time. But when we were planning a trip to Spain in 2010 I did see this same advice and both my husband and myself bought PacSafe bags and we've used them ever since! I think thieves see these bags and just leave us alone, or that's what I like to think and we've never had issues on any of our trips to Spain. I will say that everything I read about Barcelona's thieves made me ultra paranoid in that city. So I was extra careful there. I think this is a great public service and your advice should be heeded. Sorry that the two of you experienced this. At least you got your Macbook back. I know I'd be lost without mine!
Sorry to hear about this. Having always lived in big cities and never having been robbed, I suggest using tiny carabiners to attach zippers to one another or loops on bags/backpacks. It is very hard (and noisy) for a thief to undo a carabiner. Also, a larger (screw) locking carabiner is good for attaching a bag to a table, chair, fence, post or something else, so that a thief cannot snatch your bag. It would take them too long to unscrew. Flying Tiger has them for one euro.
I do this too.
Sorry to hear about you both getting robbed. I always travel with a shoulder bag (manbag) with a zip top. And zipped pockets on my jacket to stop things getting lost/stolen. I see so many people with their phones poking out of their back jean pocket. Also don't wear expensive or expensive looking watch or jewellery that can make you a target. Thanks for the video.
brilliant video! thanks for the advises!
It happened to my sister in Barcelona Cathedral of all places. She was buying a candle and there were two guys talking between her. She was so distracted they picked her wallet. On my last trip to Madrid I kept my eye on my things. Truth is theft is common in a lot of places. I got pickpocketed in New York (at a bar) and Miami decades ago. I was nervous as hell walking around in Rome. Glad you are ok.
In Barcelona, they will steal everything!
I'm sorry to hear of both your experiences. Unfortunately you always need to be on your guard in any major world city. I stopped a couple of US teens entering the London tube system at rush hour as both had expensive phones sticking out of their jeans back pockets just begging to be knocked out or pinched. I advised them to put their phones in their front jeans pockets.
I love that you are not dwelling on the past but the solutions!
WOW! We are so sorry but I have to say I am so glad you made this video. I learned a lot .
Sorry to hear this. I have been living in Spain since 1986 and never been robbed, I do practice situational awareness however even when I am in a safe place, guess it’s my NYC upbringing. Spain is a very safe place but as in all big cities and tourist attractions you must be aware of your environment.
They target tourists, not locals. They know who's who.
I'm with you! I grew up in the Bronx, New York in the '50s and to this day will be hard pressed to leave even an umbrella out of my sight. It's hard to be vigilant even 95% of the time. Anywhere in the general public and my wallet goes into my front pocket or inside zippered pocket, and if I have a day pack, usually a sling pack, it gets turned around to my front. My day of theft reckoning has yet to come, but I'll never say never.
Julio ORourke Fernandez
Goodnight
Spain and Portugal were very safe during the dictatorships of Franco in Spain and Salazar in Portugal, currently both countries are not safe anymore, crime has increased by 10 000% since then and no, I'm not kidding, I'm serious.
I'm Portuguese, I know Madrid and other Spanish cities, I'm 72 years old and I've been the target of several robberies and assaults as I speak in other comments.
@@josesaraiva9566 You're a liar. And you know it. Are you a resentful nostalgic of the criminal dictatorship? 🤬
I am from Venezuela, possibly go to spain to meet where my grandfather was from, and I am with you 100％ the paranoid might keep you safe...
Thank you for sharing difficult experiences with petty crime in Spain. No matter where you live, this is just an unfortunate reality. It takes courage to talk about it. No one likes talking about it especially when it happens in the city you love. However it is invaluable.
As a New Yorker, I am naturally distrustful of others, especially once they get within a certain distance of personal space.
When I ate at La Cova Fumada (Barcelona) owner gave me standing room at the bar which was fine. However this establishment likes to keep packing ‘‘em in like sardines. He wanted me to hang my coat and property approximately 20 feet away at he nearest coat hook near a table of strangers because he wanted me to eat in front of a bannister with only 8 inches of counter space as well as shove 2 more souls at the bar. In Spanish Castile but not Catalan, I told him I would be happy to if he’s responsible for my property if stolen. He got pissed at me and after a few exchanges he left me alone. IF I had agreed, pretty sure in a packed tapas establishment I would have been robbed. I felt uncomfortable but I had to speak up and be responsible for my property.
Saw you on Mark Wiens channel. What a great video. I look forward to your videos!
So much good info in this vid. Great job, guys! This must’ve been a hard decision to make, spotlighting a bad aspect that will turn people off. Last summer I had two mountain bikes stolen in Colorado Springs collectively worth $8k. I filled out a police report that included all bike serial numbers. Thankfully, they were insured and we were paid out. Fast forward to this past month - the police dept called me to say they found BOTH bikes and they were in great shape! This was all possible because of the detailed police report as well as the theft division’s hard work as well. Knowing the serial numbers of your valuables is essential . (edit my insurance company informed us on payout that we could keep the bikes if they were ever returned)
I spent a couple of minutes reviewing the comments down here and detected a lot of fear. I fell in love with Madrid around 1991, decided I am going to study at the University there. Spent eight years in total. I visited Barcelona quite often then. I come to Madrid to visit nearly every year, sometimes twice a year and I literately spend my days and nights in the streets. I have never been robbed. I guess it's a little bit of luck, but also a little bit of knowing how to move around, where to put my money, watch around from time to time, in order to detect potential pickpockets, know which areas are prone to this kind of phenomena . But...there' s no need to be afraid to go to Madrid or Barcelona, just try to avoid situations in which you can be robbed, like really huge crowds, And if you need to be in one, like at some hours in the subway, just put your backpack in front of you and cover it with one of your arms... and act as you would in any other big city in the whole world.
Saludos desde Puerto Rico amig@s es bueno saber esto que a pasado recientemente, triste por sus perdidas claro , por que pienso ir para Espana en septiembre , aunque ya lo sabia es bueno recordar que estas cosas pasan, para uno cuidarse , gracias de nuevo y muchos exitos !!
I am so sorry to hear about this! The hassle and the financial loss really stinks. I've been lucky so far and it I haven't had this misfortune. Although, the last time I was in Madrid, I almost lost my wallet with hundreds of euro inside; stupid I know! I was coming out of a restaurant and hear a noise, looked down on the ground to find my wallet. I couldn't believe how careless but luck I was to notice. I had the wallet in my front pocket but somehow it fell out.
Your attitude is good and realistic. Thank you for sharing this video with us as it really is helpful.
Lamento mucho que passo con ustedes 😢.
It is hard not to be paranoid , I can't help it. I grew up in Rio de Janeiro.
I'm heading to the South of Spain on Sunday, I will be even more careful this time. Gracias por mais un video.
I'm sorry to hear about this, but glad you two are OK. Whoever steals my purse steals trash; he who takes my life, takes everything.
My defense against robbery has always been an assertive attitude and dressing badly (looking poor), with no watch or visible jewelry and inexpensive clothes. I also have a throwaway wallet salted with cash (small bills to make it appear a greater sum) and a fake ID that I'd throw at any street criminal. I've been the victim of attempted robbery three times in my life, once in San Francisco, once in Oakland, and once in London. All three times, I didn't cooperate and they gave up, but I advise people to cooperate unless they're Jack Reacher or an idiot (I'm the latter). American criminals are far more likely to have guns than European criminals and are far more aggressive and likely to be violent for violence's sake.
That's a good tactic. Another is 'Please don't hurt me, here is my wallet, I have a severe medical condition'. Then hand them a wallet with expired or ficticious credit cards and monopoly money.
@@davedogge2280 I don't advise Monopoly money nor saying you're weak and ill--street criminals are not famous for their empathy and they'll likely check that wallet immediately to see if the cash is real or not. If they spot fake money, they're going to be in a very bad mood.
@@Falconlibrary I agree but what a way to live. Down dress for the sake of not attracting attention. I lived in Santa Cruz, CA for 20 years (German legal alien here) and only once felt threatened by hooligans who chased us in their car. Good thing my husband was a great driver. That was tense. But that was a long time ago. Plenty of car break-ins in front of motels... don't leave anything valuable in it, even used Adidas running shoes, wow!
@@Falconlibrary yeah the fake wallet with a few low value notes is the best option and just say 'take it I don't want any trouble' is the best option.
I second to that alternative fake wallet. I have an ex-coworker who did that because he travelled for work a lot. I wanted to do that do but just worried I will forget about that fake wallet when it actually happens.
We were walking down late night @ La Ramblas when 2 big “friendly” guys invited me to their club…felt a hand rubbing my back pocket attempting to get a hold of my wallet while the other one was holding my hands dancing with me …I called out to my friends walking in front and they abandon the whole fiasco.
Your attitudes are perfect. You need to be careful but not become paranoid when something like this happens.
myself (englishman) and my spanish wife lived in madrid for 15yrs, about 4 yrs ago we were on our way to the Blackbird in huertas on a Sunday night, we had to change metros at cuartro caminos, just as we were getting on the metro a man cleverly pushed his way also into our metro and managed to get his hand into my wife´s handbag and grabbbed her purse with all her cards , keys and cash!!
she managed to cancel all the cards, but was very shaken!!! Shes refused to ever return to the blackbird ever again. We´re now living in Cantabria.
Sorry to hear about your news!!
Hi James & Yoly! Sorry to hear about your bad experiences. It's a sad reflection on how the world is today. Try not to blame yourselves, as we are all not always as careful as we should be, and it's the thief scum that are to blame, not yourselves. Take care both of you & thank you for sharing.
I feel you. I've been living in Barcelona since 2018 and in that time I've been robbed three (!) times: my iPhone was stolen twice and the third time it was my bag. Nothing super valuable in there (I managed to block the debit card before the thief had had a chance to use it) but it did mean I had to go through the whole procedure for getting my NIE again (God forbid they should have that on record somewhere 🙄). I'm totally paranoid now. Won't let my stuff out of my sight for a minute. I wear my phone tied with a strap around my neck and I don't take it off till I get to the safety of my home. I really don't think anyone can blame me, though.
3 times? Jesus christ... Maybe you were very unlucky, or maybe you somehow give those "tourist" vibes that criminals always look for. In any case, I'm very sorry you had to endure so much unease that it made you paranoid.
I've been also living in Barcelona since 2018 and never got robbed, probably because I've been a bit paranoid since day one XD. This city truly sucks.
@@osasunaitor yeah, in that sense it truly does
No one is blaming you for getting robbed 3 times. Spain is just a den of thieves. not a good place to visit without being robbed or taken advantage of.
@@eb7027 thanks. I meant I didn’t think anyone could blame me for wearing my phone tied in a strap around my neck all the time…
@@therealtulip you are doing the right thing.... adapting to the environment. Personal safety is always first. Stay safe please 🙏
I'm glad you put this video out.. although i have been to most parts of Spain.. and most recently 3 weeks last year in Madrid.. you always have to keep your wit and senses on the reality if you are traveling from another country to and play to be mindful of your surrounding and belongings.. thank god in all my travels to europe and africa .. i had the best of fortune not to lose any of my stuff via pickpocketing or being snatched or robbed.. so its good you can remind your viewers .. though you are going to have fun.. just have some common sense.. because it can happen.. btw.. loved all your spain videos... helped me out alot!!!
Thank you for the video we are glad you made the video
It happened to me at the airport in Valencia. Thankfully, all they stole was a bag that had a bottle of wine, a phone charger and some cheap sunglasses.
Last week my BF had a guy in the security line at Barcelona airport try to steal his laptop. this was while i was being swabbed for bombs (or who knows what) on the other side of the scanner. he stopped the guy and gave him a correction :) all went well and we made it to Madrid and Vigo. Having so much fun here. keep your wits about you. BTW Spanish TSA Misses nothing!!!
Great video. The AirTags are very useful, since you can hide them in your bag. I love your channel.
This is a very informative video. I discovered your channel recently. Being a crime victim can happen in any big city and in any country. I always think about not being an easy target 🎯. When traveling , Crime or accidents happen but hopefully it will not happen to you. Your lovely wife is so funny!
😂
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Maximum
We are actually headed to Spain the end of May. I have been to many European cities with the distraction pickpockets. My husband almost got his wallet stolen in Paris. I usually carry an anti theft purse. But it is scary.
dont use backpack, if u carry a bag, keep alway in front not on the back. many gypsies (mostly women, you will notice as they dress differently) will approach you give you some plant, trying to put something in your hand , stay away for them. do not carry many cash, most of the place accept card in madrid
I lived in Madrid for years. In bars or on the metro if you put your bag down you should put your foot (ankle) through the handle of your pack otherwise someone will definitely nick it. Never lost mine! (edit - and don't worry about being paranoid, it's a useful emotion in busy places, in fact that's why I've never been robbed)
Thank you for giving lot of great advices for Madrid :)
So sorry for you guys to have experienced this. I almost got freshed in Barcelona many years ago, gave me a good lesson: travel light and inconspicuous as possible.
Sorry that happened--it can be scary. I was pickpocketed in England on Trafalgar Square on the street. I realized my wallet was gone as I looked for my bus ticket on the bus, but thankfully my travelers checks were able to be replaced by the company that issued them, and I had left most of my money in my hotel safe box. Also,once in Barcelona on a train, my sister was almost robbed along with her husband. this person at first was asking people for money own the train, and then as my sister stood up for her stop, the man approached her and bumped into her. My sister's husband then pushed his suitcase into the would-be attacker/robber and threw him off guard as they left. It can happen anywhere--you're never safe from people who need money desperately. In Amsterdam, my friend's camera went missing, and it was in his suitcase. Apparently the hotel staff got to it.
Omg, me too. Same place.
@@marvinbrando722put in your front pocket. I always put my card wallet in front pocket and phone too. I never take my backpack off anywhere, but honestly, I leave my laptops at hotel. Also I have sinus issues so I blow my nose and always leave tissue paper in back pocket as a diversion by having s bit of it stick out, so a pick pocket can go for that. Once I blew my nose and left the unused showing a bit out of my pocket. Sure enough it was gone within an hour after watching a street show at Las Ramblas in Barcelona. The guy who pulled it got a handful of snot for sure.
Wow, I didn't know traveler's checks still existed
I’m really sorry for your loss guys. experienced a similar robbery years ago in Barcelona metro, police were just as uninterested, what can anyone say , be careful and insured, take care✌🏿☕️🥰
thank you for showing this
it has happened to me too
best of empathy for you both
this is a world situation/no matter where your are.