Brits are being warned about a rise in pickpockets in the Canary Islands, as police have urged tourists to be vigilant and make some changes to what they carry on them
Pickpockets are on the rise in the Canary Islands despite it the chill of winter weather.
As the number one destination in Europe for winter sun, millions flock to the Canary Islands to escape a usually cold and wet winter in the UK. However, those sunseekers aren’t able to escape the peril of three-fingered bandits.
Recently, social media has become inaudated with individuals complaining about pickpockets at various holiday resorts including Playa de Las Americas, Los Cristianos and Callao Salvaje in Tenerife, Playa Del Ingles in Gran Canaria and Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote, according to Canarian Weekly.
It is claimed that the thieves, who spend the summer season at other resorts across Spain and Europe, head to the Canary Islands every winter and also target rental cars, particularly when they are parked in isolated areas at tourist hotspots. The police have urged people to more careful by not carrying too much money on them, not having PIN numbers and cars in wallets, watch out for strangers who approach them and to not leave valuables in cars.
Whilst many have complained that the police are complacent towards the pickpockets, the police have claimed they are unable to do anything unless the culprit is caught in the act. In 2022, a law was passed that gave the police more power to charge thieves, as the ‘value amount of possession’ was lowered to make it easier for police to arrest, charge or imprison perpetrators. The reform to the Penal Code included prison sentences of up to 18 months for petty theft for re-offenders.
However, pickpockets have targeted Spain and the Canary Islands as they are aware of the loopholes in the law where they are essentially not punished for thefts of less than €400 (£331.86).
However, a new bit of legislation means that minor thefts of less than that amount can receive a higher penalty for repeat offenders. The combined total amount an individual has stolen is now taken into account and this gives the police more incentive to arrest them, and the courts more power to charge them.
In November, one tourist took to social media platform X, stating: “So after my confrontation this time last week with the Barcelona pickpocket who stole my phone (I got it back) can you believe it but they’ve pickpocketed my mum today in Tenerife and taken her mobile. I was with her but didn’t notice. I know phones don’t really matter but…”
This month, Andrea Seldon told an online forum she was “really shook up” after a group tried to grab her bag while she was on an evening stroll in Tenerife.
She wrote: “I’m absolutely gutted to be posting this. I’ve read lots on here lately about pickpockets. Tonight we were walking along and I felt someone behind me. I thought he was trying to grab my bag or try to sell me something at first. I turned around and grabbed my bag. He backed off saying sorry. We carried on walking and I realised my bag was open.
“Luckily everything was still inside. Really shook up and upset but please ladies, make sure your bag is across your body and in front of you. Tenerife is a very special place to us. There were three of them. Two men and a woman.”
Security expert Paul Evans from I-Spy Detectives has shared some of his top tips of how to stay safe when on the road, so you don’t get scammed when travelling. While carrying your bag securely and keeping an eye on your surroundings is important, being confident and walking with a purpose is often enough to put pickpockets off.
“Pickpockets don’t want to get caught so they will select their victims carefully. Often their victims are distracted and not concentrating on the environment around them, someone who’s looking at a map on their phone, or struggling with their baggage is a perfect target,” Paul added.
“What you need to do is look confident, and have an idea where you are going when out in public, if you are stopping to check your map constantly then you are an easy target.”
While tactics are changing and constantly evolving, there are some moves that the expert has noticed over the years that are still in play.
“If someone bumps into you, or spills something over you it can often be a way of distracting you while an accomplice goes through your things. If this happens, create some distance and try to put your back to a wall, this way you can see everything in front of you and keep the criminals out of your belongings,” advises Paul.
“Never stop for street performers or watch out for slow walkers in front of you too. Once again these scenarios make it easy for you to get distracted and what will happen is a pickpocket will be going through your bag or pockets at the same time.”