Indie
I agree with what has been said, and I don't.
It is true that in
statistics, Madrid is probably as safe as Copenhague, Munich or Paris. maybe you'd be safe 99,9999% of the times.
However:
- You are not so safe if you are a tourist. Tourists bring more cash everywhere, and won't ever meet you again because they leave soon. Also, many times they don't denounce because they are on holidays, and, if the criminal was found, they wouldn't come for the trial.
- There are certain areas in the city where the percentage of muggins is 100 more times higher than others, and these are close to Gran Via and Sol, very touristic places and where many affordable hostales are. I won't speak of deaths not to scare more.
If you see these areas you'll probably think I am lying, or at least exagerating a lot. However, I myself get amazed of how safe they seem (and are) in the daylight and in the night, crowded with people, and, on the other hand, knowing of frequent (for Spain) muggins in the area. I have helped some victims, so I know that what we see in the newspapers is true, and probably more, not denounced.
You are right that you're safe in the streets. Where you aren't safe sometimes is in the hallways, where usually hide groups of about three men who do this mugging stuff. There people can't see you and can't help you. And they don't know it unless they read the smallish notes in newspapers.
-There are muggins, and they are not so infrequent to tourists and in those areas. I searched for "muggins" here, at MM's, and I found 36 references. I didn't look them up because it's very late, but you can do the search yourself. MM's got about 3000+ members,and some have been mugged. I agree that the percentage is small, but not unexistant. More for tourists, and more in such areas.
Sorry to say this, for those who have bussiness in the area, but that's how I see it.
One of the threads:
An example of muggings threads, here, at MM\'s. I think it wouldn't be fair not to say All the truth, but, having said this, I encorage you to come. If you take some precautions you will have safe and wonderful holidays.