The Local Spain 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 How Barcelona is once again Spain's pickpocket capital The theft of a rucksack caught on camera during a TV interview has put the focus on the problem of thievery in the Catalan capital, a trend which has returned in full blast following the end of Covid-19 restrictions. https://www.thelocal.es/20220816/how-barcelona-is-once-again-spains-city-of-thieves Tue, 16 Aug 2022 12:28:46 +0200 how-barcelona-is-once-again-spains-city-of-thieves How crime levels in Barcelona have been affected by the loss of tourism With few tourists in Barcelona, criminals are targeting locals—but there may actually be a silver lining, writes Jennifer Creaser. https://www.thelocal.es/20200806/without-the-tourists-barcelonas-pickpockets-have-been-forced-to-change-targets Thu, 06 Aug 2020 13:01:41 +0200 without-the-tourists-barcelonas-pickpockets-have-been-forced-to-change-targets Share your tips: How can you avoid being ripped off when in Spain? Tourists and foreign residents being ripped off is unfortunately nothing new in Spain, especially in some of the big cities and tourist hot spots on the coast. Please share your tips for how to avoid getting into trouble. https://www.thelocal.es/20190523/share-your-tips-how-can-you-avoid-being-ripped-off-when-in-spain Thu, 23 May 2019 16:08:05 +0200 share-your-tips-how-can-you-avoid-being-ripped-off-when-in-spain Madrid cops 'overwhelmed' as pickpockets target Primark Spain's biggest Primark opened in October 2015 to great fanfare, but now police have demanded the discount clothing store increase security after a wave of thefts. https://www.thelocal.es/20160610/madrid-police-overwhelmed-as-thieves-target-flagship-primark Fri, 10 Jun 2016 16:30:34 +0200 madrid-police-overwhelmed-as-thieves-target-flagship-primark Gang forces disabled Romanians to beg Spanish police have broken up a human trafficking ring that exploited disabled Romanian migrants by promising them jobs in Spain and then forcing them to beg and work as prostitutes on the streets of Alicante and Benidorm. https://www.thelocal.es/20140410/gang-forces-disabled-foreigners-into-begging-and-sex-work Thu, 10 Apr 2014 12:46:47 +0200 gang-forces-disabled-foreigners-into-begging-and-sex-work Pickpockets banned from Madrid's tourist hotspots A judge in Spain's capital has ruled that a notorious pickpocketing gang with more than 400 arrests under their belts be barred from some of the city’s most popular tourist spots despite the questionable legality behind the move. https://www.thelocal.es/20140408/pickpockets-banned-from-madrids-tourist-hotspots-spain-2 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 18:39:00 +0200 pickpockets-banned-from-madrids-tourist-hotspots-spain-2