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You’re eating tapas at an outdoor restaurant in Barcelona, your iPhone on the table a few inches from your right hand, when a woman bumps your left arm and spills a drink on you. She apologizes profusely and walks away. A few minutes later, you realize your iPhone has disappeared. Unfortunately, you’ve just become a statistic, one of thousands of daily victims of “Apple picking,†a crime trend aimed at the owners of iPhones and iPads. Unfortunately, you’ve just become a statistic, one of thousands of daily victims of “Apple picking,†a crime trend aimed at the owners of iPhones and iPads. Barcelona. (Photo: Thomas Quine / Flickr)In this example, the crime was in Barcelona, known for its petty thievery and pickpockets. But it could have happened almost anywhere in the world. While Apple picking is a crime that’s soaring statistically, it’s only the tip of the iceberg for travelers, who are prime targets for pickpockets and street criminals. Pickpockets have become so aggressive in some parts of Europe that guards at the Louvre Museum in Paris – the most famous museum in the world – went on strike earlier this year to protest the audacious behavior of street criminals at the facility, and a similar strike was threatened in Rome by guards at the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. “There have always been pickpockets at the Louvre and in tourist locations in Paris, but for the last year and a half the gangs have become increasingly violent,†Sophie Aquirre, a supervisor at the museum, told the BBC. Statistically, tourists are victimized at much higher rates than local residents, says Marcus Felson, a Texas State University professor and expert in crime analysis. “Tourist crime is quite high,†he says. Louvre Museum in Paris. (Photo: Vankfire / Flickr)Because of the inconsistent way crime statistics are reported in various countries, street crime is difficult to chart. And while groups such as the United Nations track crime trends internationally, they usually don’t distinguish between violent and nonviolent crime. Nonetheless, some cities are known for street crime, says Bob Arno, co-author of Travel Advisory: How to Avoid ‘Thefts, Cons, and Street Crime While Traveling. Barcelona is at the top of the list. “For 10 years, there’s been a concerted effort to cut down on street crime in Barcelona, and it’s slowly getting better,†says Arno. “But it has a long way to go.†He says statistics show seven to 10 percent of all visitors to Spain will be accosted by a street criminal, and about one-third of these attacks will be successful. Arno, recognized as an expert on pickpockets, is a frequent guest on CNN and has made documentaries for The Travel Channel, Discovery and National Geographic. After Barcelona, he lists Paris as a top spot for pickpockets. Paul Roll, director of the city’s tourism office, tried to deflect some of the bad publicity Paris received after the Louvre strike by telling the press that he hoped tourists would visit the city anyway. But he added that “it is a subject that we shouldn’t hide and must take seriously.†The U.S. Embassy takes it seriously enough to have published a tips guide: “Pickpockets in Paris: How to Avoid Becoming a Victim.â€
