https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Two Spanish robbers who tried to flee on foot after snatching a bag containing 3,000 euros ($3,300) met with more than they bargained for when one of the police officers pursuing them turned out to be a record-holding sprinter. https://www.thelocal.es/20191224/police-sprinting-champ-bags-spanish-purse-snatchers Tue, 24 Dec 2019 16:12:30 +0100 police-sprinting-champ-bags-spanish-purse-snatchers Barcelona’s residents are forming citizen patrols and turning to social media in the battle against the gangs of pickpockets terrorizing the metro system. https://www.thelocal.es/20190823/theres-a-crime-wave-in-barcelona-turning-citizens-into-vigilantes Fri, 23 Aug 2019 17:16:55 +0200 theres-a-crime-wave-in-barcelona-turning-citizens-into-vigilantes Mallorca airport has issued new warnings on scammers preying on tourists and guidelines on how to avoid them. https://www.thelocal.es/20180521/10-common-airport-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them-when-you-travel-to-spain Mon, 21 May 2018 16:48:45 +0200 10-common-airport-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them-when-you-travel-to-spain Last year more than 5,000 Britons lost their passports while visiting Spain causing holidaymakers needless distress, hassle and extra expense. https://www.thelocal.es/20160811/keep-your-passports-safe-typical-pickpocket-scams-revealed Thu, 11 Aug 2016 15:25:35 +0200 keep-your-passports-safe-typical-pickpocket-scams-revealed Spanish police said Tuesday they are putting on display scores of stolen mobile telephones so their owners can claim them, after a crackdown on thefts in Madrid's underground train network. https://www.thelocal.es/20140520/lost-a-phone-in-spain-it-could-be-here Tue, 20 May 2014 17:42:00 +0200 lost-a-phone-in-spain-it-could-be-here A Swedish magazine sold by the homeless has caught the attention of national media in the Scandinavian country after it highlighted the plight of scores of destitute Swedes who beg in Spain's most popular tourist areas. https://www.thelocal.es/20140429/swedes-beg-in-spain-immigration-schengen Tue, 29 Apr 2014 15:03:00 +0200 swedes-beg-in-spain-immigration-schengen Two Taiwanese tourists used their martial arts skills this week to take down and detain a mugger who tried to steal a woman's mobile phone in the southern Spanish town of Ronda. https://www.thelocal.es/20140424/martial-arts-tourists-tackle-spanish-mugger Thu, 24 Apr 2014 14:31:00 +0200 martial-arts-tourists-tackle-spanish-mugger Police in Barcelona have arrested six members of a gang of thieves who stole credit cards from tourists and used them to ring up huge fake bills at a city restaurant. https://www.thelocal.es/20140303/pickpocket-gang Mon, 03 Mar 2014 15:34:13 +0100 pickpocket-gang Over 29,000 police officers will be deployed to fight the growth in petty crime during the summer period and ensure the safety of the millions of tourists reaching Spain's shores. https://www.thelocal.es/20130610/tourist-police-gear-up-for-summer-of-crime Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:30:00 +0200 tourist-police-gear-up-for-summer-of-crime Around twenty passengers on Barcelona's underground helped a tourist who had just been pickpocketed on Tuesday by restraining the thieves and handing them in to Catalan police. https://www.thelocal.es/20130606/barcelona-pickpocket-busters-rescue-tourist Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:37:00 +0200 barcelona-pickpocket-busters-rescue-tourist British holidaymakers in the Majorcan town of Magaluf continue to be the victims of pickpocketing schemes carried out by prostitute gangs operating in the early hours of the morning. https://www.thelocal.es/20130506/pickpocketing-prostitutes-prey-on-brits-in-majorca Mon, 06 May 2013 18:39:00 +0200 pickpocketing-prostitutes-prey-on-brits-in-majorca Police in Madrid have caught four pickpocketing pests who preyed on sleeping underground passengers and threatened them with machetes when challenged. https://www.thelocal.es/20130327/machete-thieves-target-dozing-metro-users Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:11:00 +0100 machete-thieves-target-dozing-metro-users