Which City Has Highest Pickpockets?

Pickpocketing is one of the oldest ways of stealing from people. While earlier cash and valuables were the target, the current breed of pickpockets can also steal electronic items such as smartphones. Pickpockets often operate in crowded places, where it is easier to follow people and discreetly steal from their pockets. Quite often, purses and bags are also stolen without the owner noticing.

Getting pickpocketed can be a big hassle if you lose your cards, passport and other documents. It is important to be extra careful when you are travelling abroad. Here is a list of places that are considered to have the highest number of pickpockets in the world.

Barcelona, Spain – Barcelona is a global tourist hub, attracting around 10 million vacationers every year. One of the most visited places is the Las Ramblas boulevard. As the tree-lined pedestrian street witnesses a large number of tourists, it is a preferred hunting ground for pickpockets. While official numbers are not available, Las Ramblas in Barcelona is considered as one of the world’s pickpocketing hubs.

London, UK – This is one of the locations with the highest pickpockets. Research in 2022 revealed more than 80,000 incidents in two years. Areas in London with highest cases of pickpocketing included Westminster, Camden and Southwark. Despite strict police action, pickpocketing and street theft cases continue to trouble tourists who come to London from across the globe.

Paris, France – It is easy to guess that Eiffel Tower in Paris is the most-visited destination in France. It attracts close to 7 million tourists every year. Around 75% of people visiting the Eiffel Tower are international tourists. With tourists mesmerized by the size and scale of the tower, pickpockets find it easy to prey on their victims. There are not just gangs, but also entire families who are into pickpocketing around the Eiffel Tower as a permanent profession.

Rome, Italy – One of the high-risk areas in Rome for pickpocketing is Trevi Fountain. One of the popular activities is throwing coins into the fountain, which is supposed to bring you good luck. It is estimated that the fountain collects around 3,000 Euros every day. But as people get consumed in the ritual, pickpockets find it the right time to strike.

Prague, Czech Republic – Visitors to Prague often head to the Charles Bridge to pay respect to St. John of Nepomuk. It is a traditional ritual to touch the statue of the saint. It is considered to bring good luck. As people are busy in the rituals, pickpockets find them an easy target.

When you are travelling to popular tourist destinations, the risk of pickpockets will always be there. One of the solutions is to keep your valuable items inside an inner jacket pocket. You can also try anti-theft bags or anti-theft clothing. Or, you can simply leave your valuables at the hotel you are staying at.