Rolex Stolen off my wrist in Barcelona
Discussion
vsonix said:
Tell you what though, as being a 'victim of crime' goes, I'd much rather get my s
t rinsed by a skillful 'fingersmith' than have someone threaten to jab a knife in me unless I hand over my last 20 quid, which is how it tends to go down in London.
True enough Vsonix...it's what the Mrs said...I wasn't hurt..plenty people have, for a lot lot lesst rinsed by a skillful 'fingersmith' than have someone threaten to jab a knife in me unless I hand over my last 20 quid, which is how it tends to go down in London. Edited by AndrewCrown on Tuesday 11th October 15:16
AndrewCrown said:
True enough Vsonix...it's what the Mrs said...I wasn't hurt..plenty people have, for a lot lot less
It is my understanding that such crimes in Barcelona fall under what is essentially a misdemeanour, whereas if violence is used, the charges become much more serious.vsonix said:
Tell you what though, as being a 'victim of crime' goes, I'd much rather get my st rinsed by a skillful 'fingersmith' than have someone threaten to jab a knife in me unless I hand over my last 20 quid, which is how it tends to go down in London.
t rinsed by a skillful 'fingersmith' than have someone threaten to jab a knife in me unless I hand over my last 20 quid, which is how it tends to go down in London. Hence all the elaborate scams and trickery.
Well, that's my understanding anyway, I could be wrong.
I experienced one such scam there, where one guy pretends to be lost and asks for directions. His accomplice will then walk up, and flash a "police" ID badge, and ask if the other guy's been hassling you.
I was slightly slow on the uptake and didn't twig immediately, but my GF did, and we moved on. However, the next stage of that particular scam is that the "policeman" asks you to come with him and at some point you're relieved of money / stuff.
Another instance was in the Metro, and it was pickpockets this time, but a bunch of locals recognised them for who they were and were hounded off the train.
C*nts.
When to Barca in 2014 with my partner and managed to stop a thief attempting to pickpocket my partners handbag. It was coming off the Metro and it was quite quiet but I noticed this young lad following us behind so I naturally tried to keep cautious. As we walked up the steps to reach the ground floor he tried sliding his hand up the banister rail to grab the bag. I noticed it straight away and turned around. Even before I had fully turned around he ran back down the steps empty handed, obviously to try his luck again with another person. Shame really.
Other than that one incident which could have been much worse, we had a lovely time and Barca is a beautiful city.
You're gonna get theives in any popular city so you just have to be cautious. It's also not worth the risk of taking anything valuable out either (which is a shame).
Other than that one incident which could have been much worse, we had a lovely time and Barca is a beautiful city.
You're gonna get theives in any popular city so you just have to be cautious. It's also not worth the risk of taking anything valuable out either (which is a shame).
Edited by Prohibiting on Tuesday 11th October 14:12
AndrewCrown said:
True enough Vsonix...it's what the Mrs said...I wasn't hurt..plenty people have, for a lot lot less
Andrew, your reply to a quote goes underneath, makes no sense otherwise...vsonix said:
Tell you what though, as being a 'victim of crime' goes, I'd much rather get my st rinsed by a skillful 'fingersmith' than have someone threaten to jab a knife in me unless I hand over my last 20 quid, which is how it tends to go down in London.
t rinsed by a skillful 'fingersmith' than have someone threaten to jab a knife in me unless I hand over my last 20 quid, which is how it tends to go down in London. AndrewCrown said:
Chaps
I thought I would post a general warning on here about Barcelona and the skilful theft of my Rolex Submariner last week.
My colleague and I were walking from the Casino to Hotel Arts. At that time of night there were the usual collection of peddlers, hookers and beggars hanging around. On the bridge just by Bestial there were three street performers jumping about, back flipping and whooping.
Without warning a small one landed on me, steadying his fall on my wrist. The watch was gone and so was he, my colleague didn’t even notice.
I doubled back and waited for them to resume position. I challenged them but they split up and ran off down the beach. Unfortunately no Police around. I probably shouldn’t have done that… let’s say I was a little cross.
I think of myself as street aware, but this level of artful dodger’ness was quite impressive… how did they undo the double locking clasp? I did not feel a thing.
So if you are out and about in that area, be super aware.
I am looking for a replacement, so if any pistonheads want to sell their 16610, PM me.
Map below
Was it with a leather strap ?I thought I would post a general warning on here about Barcelona and the skilful theft of my Rolex Submariner last week.
My colleague and I were walking from the Casino to Hotel Arts. At that time of night there were the usual collection of peddlers, hookers and beggars hanging around. On the bridge just by Bestial there were three street performers jumping about, back flipping and whooping.
Without warning a small one landed on me, steadying his fall on my wrist. The watch was gone and so was he, my colleague didn’t even notice.
I doubled back and waited for them to resume position. I challenged them but they split up and ran off down the beach. Unfortunately no Police around. I probably shouldn’t have done that… let’s say I was a little cross.
I think of myself as street aware, but this level of artful dodger’ness was quite impressive… how did they undo the double locking clasp? I did not feel a thing.
So if you are out and about in that area, be super aware.
I am looking for a replacement, so if any pistonheads want to sell their 16610, PM me.
Map below
Edited by AndrewCrown on Monday 10th October 18:36
Barcelona is one of the worst places in the world for this sort of crap, especially on a night out. Sorry you became one of the victims.
A similar thing happened to me about 5 years ago about 100m away outside Opium. I was wearing a Rolex Datejust II which doesn't have the double clasp even though it looks a bit like it does, so may have bought me a few extra seconds, which gave enough time for someone to shout at me that the guy was stealing my watch. Shouted at the robber and his colleague (who was doing the distraction) and they walked off sheepishly without saying anything. I got really lucky that they didn't get it.
That area really is a cess pool, especially at night. Most of the people there with money are criminals, and those on the street all are. Fun when you are in your early 20s though I suppose.
A similar thing happened to me about 5 years ago about 100m away outside Opium. I was wearing a Rolex Datejust II which doesn't have the double clasp even though it looks a bit like it does, so may have bought me a few extra seconds, which gave enough time for someone to shout at me that the guy was stealing my watch. Shouted at the robber and his colleague (who was doing the distraction) and they walked off sheepishly without saying anything. I got really lucky that they didn't get it.
That area really is a cess pool, especially at night. Most of the people there with money are criminals, and those on the street all are. Fun when you are in your early 20s though I suppose.
Edited by sealtt on Wednesday 12th October 15:24
tuffer said:
I went to a works event in London earlier this year and one of the entertainers was "Keith the Thief".
Yep, interesting chap. Chatted to him after an event I helped run and he commented that I wear my watch very tight on my wrist. 
Adding that that's a good thing because it made getting the clasp undone more difficult without me noticing. So there's a tip, don't leave it flopping around on yoru wrist like a bracelet. I've been to Barcelona three times now in the last two years and have never had a problem. All three times I've been wearing my Breitling and had a wallet on me and I've visited in June/July/August so high temps only wearing t shirt and shorts. I was well warned prior to going but both me and my girlfriend were never approached or had any type of distraction pulled on us nor did I see anybody relieved of any items.
Sorry to hear about the Rolex too!
Sorry to hear about the Rolex too!
Just curious as to people's thoughts, when travelling abroad in higher risk areas, would it be worth buying a cheap wallet, stuffing it with paper and keeping it in your back pocket? The thinking being if you are targeted they'd go for the easy lift, rather than a watch or wallet in the front pocket which might be harder to get?
Having had my wallet nicked whilst in Barcelona I've since learnt that the place is full of thieving gits, wish I'd known that before I went out there.
For some dumbass reason I'd left the hotel on the first morning without off loading the important stuff into the hotel safe, wallet got nicked later that day. All my credit / debit cards + a decent amount of cash
For some dumbass reason I'd left the hotel on the first morning without off loading the important stuff into the hotel safe, wallet got nicked later that day. All my credit / debit cards + a decent amount of cash
Chaps... Thank you for making this thread interesting...
A few comments on wallets...on that night,my right hand was jammed in my right trouser pocket holding tightly onto my Secrid wallet and a sizable sum of Euros from the casino... I think I'd rather have had that side done!
I take one or two cards out and leaving one or two emergency cards in the hotel safe. I think I may now buy a sacrificial Steinhart for foreign trips.
I had some consolation from a work colleague who had lived in Barcelona for 15 years, she outlined... everyone she knows has been a victim in Barcelona.
A few comments on wallets...on that night,my right hand was jammed in my right trouser pocket holding tightly onto my Secrid wallet and a sizable sum of Euros from the casino... I think I'd rather have had that side done!
I take one or two cards out and leaving one or two emergency cards in the hotel safe. I think I may now buy a sacrificial Steinhart for foreign trips.
I had some consolation from a work colleague who had lived in Barcelona for 15 years, she outlined... everyone she knows has been a victim in Barcelona.
vsonix said:
Tell you what though, as being a 'victim of crime' goes, I'd much rather get my st rinsed by a skillful 'fingersmith' than have someone threaten to jab a knife in me unless I hand over my last 20 quid, which is how it tends to go down in London.
I've been mugged once and I was stabbed. Well, slashed rather than stabbed.t rinsed by a skillful 'fingersmith' than have someone threaten to jab a knife in me unless I hand over my last 20 quid, which is how it tends to go down in London. They took a dented and scratched BlackBerry phone and my wallet with about £80 in it. They ignored (didn't notice?) the Rolex Submariner I was wearing. I've thought ever since they must have been seriously idiotic thugs rather than the skilled thieves in this story.
Sitting in hospital, bleeding from my neck, I couldn't work out why they'd done that. One of those days!
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