In early 2024, Quotezone’s (a UK-based travel insurance platform) “European Pickpocketing Index” ranked Italy as the top pickpocketing country in Europe with 478 incidents per million British visitors to tourist destinations such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain… higher than both France and Spain. France was next with 251 incidents per million visitors, mainly in Paris. Spain (Las Ramblas, Madrid) and the Netherlands (Amsterdam) were also among the top performers.
The European Pickpocket Index is published by the website Quotezone.co.uk
On forums like Reddit, tourists admit that just a little bit of carelessness can lead to pickpockets in crowds like at Paris Metro stations, main bus routes in Rome or Milan's Duomo area.
When victims speak up: A common situation, difficult to prevent
Barcelona, Spain, is famous for its coastline and Gaudí architecture, but is now increasingly known as a “hot spot” for pickpockets. According to Numbeo 2024 statistics, Barcelona is the city with the highest theft rate in Spain, with a safety index of only 38/100 points. Quotezone also ranked Barcelona at the top of the “European Pickpocketing Index” in 2023, meaning it has the highest risk of pickpocketing for tourists.
In a post on a European travel group, Mr. Tran Thanh Tam recounted how his watch was snatched from his wrist while walking near Zara and H&M in Barcelona around noon. Despite being 1m8 tall, large, and in a group of 8 people, he was unable to react in time. A man dressed as a tourist approached and ripped off the watch face, leaving behind the broken strap.
Mr. Tran Thanh Tam's post attracted the attention of many people in the European travel group.
In the post, Mr. Tam suspected that he was being followed from the moment he checked out of the Starbucks under the Airbnb apartment complex by a woman who "may have been a scout." According to Mr. Tam, the time from 11 am to 12 pm is the "golden hour" for robbers when tourists often drag luggage, carry many bulky items and are less alert.
In the comments section, many accounts also shared similar experiences. Khoa Pham once had his bag snatched while drinking water by the beach. Tuan Ta told the story of his friend being robbed of a watch worth more than 1 billion VND while walking at night in the walking street.
Earlier this year, MC Thanh Thanh Huyen also posted a panicked post about losing her suitcase while taking the train in Italy, specifically from Rome to Florence. Her posts showed that she was so shocked that she cried, and at the same time called on people to be more vigilant when traveling by public transport in Europe.
Female MC Thanh Thanh Huyen posted a story about losing her suitcase while traveling in Italy.
Sophisticated tricks and "dramatization" of robberies in Europe
According to the European Crime Prevention Network’s 2023 report, the countries with the highest rates of robberies and pickpockets are Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Austria. Paris, Rome, Milan, Florence and Barcelona are the cities that are frequently warned. Crime here is not only individual but also organized, coordinated in groups of 3 to 10 people.
They usually operate in teams: one or two scouts select targets, observe and take photos. The information is then passed on to the person committing the robbery or pickpocketing. Some groups use minors to attract attention, distract or stage chaos.
La Rambla Avenue, where most robberies take place in Barcelona (Spain)
Thieves also choose moments when tourists are not paying attention, such as when checking out, carrying a lot of luggage, taking photos in crowded places, or getting on and off public transport. Areas near shopping malls or large cafes are often targeted due to the large number of tourists.
Some other common blatant money-stealing scams include pretending to ask for autographs to support charities, giving away lucky bracelets, organizing games to stage money-snatching or luring people into participating.
Mr. Nguyen Canh Linh, representative of Top Ten Travel Company, which specializes in providing visa services and tours to Europe, said, "This problem has existed for many years, but the governments of many countries have not yet found a complete solution." He also emphasized that Asian tourists are often targeted because they often use branded goods and have a habit of spending cash. Therefore, tourists need to prepare in advance. Although no measure is absolute, when prepared, the level of risk will be reduced.
Equip yourself with knowledge and proactively protect your personal property when traveling to Europe.
Famous travel bloggers such as Nhi Dang, Ha Thanh Phuc... and people with many years of experience living in European countries have shared tips on how to prevent and handle situations when being robbed as follows:
Do not carry valuables, keep watches, jewelry, cash and important documents in the hotel safe. If you must carry them, keep your wallet and phone in a safe place, always within your control.
Tourists should be especially careful with valuables such as wallets, phones, watches... in crowded places such as metro, public buses, squares...
Always be alert even when traveling in large groups, especially when carrying bulky items while checking in or out of hotels. It is best to use taxis, Uber, and limit public transportation such as buses, metros, and subways. Avoid using branded suitcases or expensive suitcases because these are easy targets. Prioritize colorful suitcases to make them easy to identify and make thieves wary.
Travelers should be especially wary of scams. If someone approaches you for no apparent reason, leave immediately. These situations often involve a group of criminals “setting up a scene.”
If you are unfortunate enough to become a victim, you should prioritize personal safety and not resist if you feel in danger. Report to the local police immediately and provide a detailed description. Contact the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in the host country for legal support and necessary procedures.
If important documents are stolen, report to the police and contact the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in the host country for legal and procedural support.
Choosing to travel to Europe now requires more than just a plane ticket, it requires alertness and proactive self-protection. A happy trip to Europe depends not only on the destination, but also on careful preparation, local knowledge and the ability to handle situations.
