Good to share this @Piethagoram we are always wary when we are out and about not only abroad but in this country, it always pays to be aware of your surroundings and be suspicious of anyone who wants to engage you in conversation as sad as that is.

Pickpockets are common abroad we saw a women who had been robbed by a pickpocket as she was standing in a crowd looking at some sand sculptures, pickpockets love a crowd of people.

Sad story.

I've done quite a lot of travelling and paranoia is second nature to me now. At the moment the man spoke to me I know that my legs would've tightened around those bags if they were at my feet. The small bag would've been on my lap anyway and I wouldn't have anything like a passport or cards in a bag. They'd be about my person, inside pockets or a pouch on my limbs.

These instincts have been earned the hard way. I fell for at least two distraction techniques when I was younger.

The worst? Sitting in a busy restaurant. Two of us, opposite each other, a bag on one of the side chairs on this small table. Kind of under our noses. I finished, but my companion was very busy, head down, very busy cutting some meat into tiny pieces. A tap on the window a few yards away. A man with a piece of paper imploring me to come over and take a look. Big mistake, I did. I couldn't read what was written on it. But almost instantly he disappeared into the very dark street outside. In those few seconds, someone inside the restaurant had plucked way the bag right under my friend's nose, who didn't know anything about it, still cutting the meat into small pieces.

Nobody ever got me on the buses in the same place when someone drops a bunch of coins then tries to get people to help pick them up. I was always alive to that, but I have to admit they got me in the restaurant that time.

Edited March 19Mar 19 by theAnticlough

12 minutes ago, theAnticlough said:

I've done quite a lot of travelling and paranoia is second nature to me now.

I‘m glad it’s not just me.

33 minutes ago, Fan of Big Tone said:

I‘m glad it’s not just me.

Part of the fun : )

Simple rule - you choose. Don't let people choose you - especially things like taxis, accommodation

I think you can even extend that to speaking. You're under no obligation to respond to strangers. I will sometimes, but my attenae is already alerted

I don't allow bags or luggage out of my sight and I always have my hand on them. It's easier said than done though, because it's easy to be distracted and being without your passport sounds quite a daunting task to deal with. I watch a lot of YouTube, from things like the Honest Tour Guide to other scam-related issues. It's good to know there are active people out there trying to do something but why don't the country authorities do better?

It amazes me the level of pick pockets in countries like Spain, France, Netherlands etc.

Oh and I know it happens in the United Kingdom too, many years ago someone tried to pick pocket me at Skegness and they walked off with a sprained hand. It's a shame people still target 'trust' because it just fuels the decay of it.

A few years ago I went on holiday to Greece, it was a really early flight and I had to get up at 3:30 in the morning to get to the airport. So once I finally arrived even though it was mid-afternoon I was feeling super tired and just wanted to get to the hotel to have a nap.

I can remember exiting the airport to find the bus to take us to the hotel. When I found it stood right at the side was a guy in a smart white shirt looking at people’s bookings, telling them to get on and leave their luggage with him as he'll load it for us.

Once I was on the bus and we were on the move I got this horrible thought of what I'd possibly just done. And then I just knew, looking at the driver and the rep in their proper uniforms... I'd handed my suitcase to a total stranger and surprise, surprise they had no idea of a man in a white shirt who worked for them.

I felt so stupid, I’m always super cautious and careful when it comes to getting scammed but because I was so tired I just wasn’t thinking properly. Luckily, all my important stuff was in my hand luggage and because I’m paranoid about the luggage being lost I’d split my clothes with my brother (who was on another bus) so I didn’t lose everything.

Now I'm like a hawk if I have to load my bag onto a bus, I'll wait to be the last person so I can see the undercarriage shut with my case in it!

As the Spencer Kelly story was in Barcelona, I'll share an experience I had in that city.

I was staying in a Hostal/Pension a few blocks away from Las Ramblas. I got talking to another traveller there and we decided to spend the day exploring the Funicular train and the views to the north. Normal enough day and chat with this man, about the same age as I was then.

Following day, early evening I was walking down the Ramblas on the west side. I looked across and at the same level as me going up on the east side was this guy. So about 30m across. I saw him glancing over at me with his head half turned. I would've been the same but as we were walking in opposite directions, the distance increased quickly. A few steps on....something wasn't right....he was going back in the direction of the Hostal. I turned around and went back up on the East side, pretty quickly

When I got back to the Hostal I asked for my key. The reception turned around and confirmed what I could see for myself - it wasn't there. They were just saying they had given the key to someone else, but I was already flying up the stairs. When I got up to the top (maybe 4 floors) I pushed opened my door, and lo and behold there he was searching the room. 'Trust your instincts' was confirmed for me thru this experience and I don't hesitate in following them.