Another favored spot for Madrid pickpockets is on an escalator to the Metro. They stand behind you and can try to life your wallet almost at liesure. The guy who hit me was inept, and I felt him searching around in my empty back pocket.

Another attempt was in the Metro, while I was standing, hanging onto a pole. This guy too was clumsy. Again, my wallet was not in my back pocket, but some cards and notes were. They fell to the floor as the guy removed his fingers. I shouted to all the world that we had a ladron among us. He scampered out the door at the next stop.

From what I've been reading, I imagine those guys have since had lots of practice and are now enjoying more success.

Sad. It makes me long for the Franco days, when this kind of crime on tourists was extremely rare.

Cops were often judge, jury, and executioner in those days. It had a distinctly inhibiting effect on street crime.
Cantabene

[ 05-07-2001: Message edited by: cantabene ]

[ 05-07-2001: Message edited by: cantabene ]