Where are the crime stats that you are all referring to that show an increase in robbery? I read an article last week that showed that several types of violent crimes declined in Madrid this year, though it didn't include stats for theft and robbery.

madrid3X,

That's the problem with statistics. When tallying oranges, you can rely on last years apple count. An old, old saying here, that is, I heard it a lot when I was still young, "figures don't lie, but liars will figure".

We're not discussing physically violent crimes. Although it seems all crimes imply violence in the form of intimidation, fraud, etc. We're talking about the types of crime a tourist might encounter in Spain.

Bottom line, the quantity or quality of crime in Spain are moot. It's the tolerance of any form or crime that's despicable.

If you read my post, instead of straight away projecting what you think I said... I specifically made the point that it's often (although not always) those at the margins who resort to crime like this. Again I also stressed it used to be Spanish natives (sometimes from the Gypsy community, sometimes drug-addicts) who did the stealing. Now a lot of those at the margins are from EE or LAm descent, and guess what, a small proportion of them end up in criminal gangs. Which is a big shame; for them, (especially) for the victims, and for the reputation of the community they come from.

Not really. You stated that you feel that crime in Spain has gotten worse because of immigration. You don't seem to live here, so I have to wonder just what verifiable facts you are basing the assumption that 1. petty thefts and robberies have increased in Madrid and 2. immigrants are disproportionately responsible for this. When I lived here 15 years ago, pickpocketing was a huge problem, especially at Christmastime. I'm not convinced that it is worse now than it was then.

I enjoy watching this debate unfold. It seems many people have had experience with petty (and other forms) of crime. Consistent with advice above, I have always maintained a certain vigilance and perhaps this is what has preserved and protected me from such incidents. That level of awareness has never hindered my enjoyment of any voyage. In fact, it has enhanced it as otherwise missed details come to the fore.
"A good lookout keeps you off the rocks," a great captain once said. It doesn't imply that he's looking for the rocks, it implies that he's looking for the safe passage through which to steer. Find it, recognize it, and follow it to your next harbor.

By absolute chance I happened upon today\'s Madridiario.es article about crime in Madrid for 2007 from January to November. It stated that 62% of those DETAINED (not arrested or finally charged) were foreigners.

Pickpocking is the second oldest profession. Just look at this painting, The Fortune Teller

Bill

Statistic's can be deceiving MM,especially crime statistic's. What were the extranjero's arrested or interviewed about? I know in the USA many people use arrest or prison statistics to prove immigrant's are responsible for crime but when the statistic for imprisonment for illegal immigration is subtracted the crime rate is about 4% for all other crimes.

Train stations anywhere in the world can be dangerous places for travelers: In NYC's Penn Station my wife made a call from a pay phone using an AT&T Credit Card. Somehow, someone got the CC numbers and, by the time AT&T called me there had been several thousand dollars in calls to places like India and China charged against my account.
So one must be very careful, never letting one's luggage out of sight, not even for a few seconds and not to be distracted from that mission by anything.

Common sense and a bit of luck goes along ways. Had friends lose 600 euros on the Paris metro. Why they carried so much cash is beyond me.

Last year had family visiting and was waiting for the train at attocha and the wife heard rustling in my backpack and turned around and sure enough there was someone going through my pack. Main reason we even caught her was she couldn't believe I had only a newspaper and water in my backpack. It was the ONE AND ONLY time I had my wallet and my camera in my pouch pack!!!

Lucky me