Tourists warned to beware in Barcelona

A survey which ranked the popular city of Barcelona as the pickpocket capital of the world shows the need for tourists to take care of their belongings overseas.

They should also make sure they have adequate travel insurance to cover for theft as thieves can strike anywhere, as the research by TripAdvisor.com shows.

The survey ranked Barcelona as the most likely place where tourists would get their valuables snatched, followed by Rome, Prague, Madrid and Paris.

The Italian city of Florence, the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, Amsterdam, Athens and Hanoi in Vietnam are also rife with pickpockets, according to TripAdvisor.

The list was drawn up by the site's editors based on comments left in internet forums.

Barcelona's main street, La Rambla, which is very popular with tourists, was voted as the worst area in the Catalan city for thefts.

TripAdvisor said: La Rambla the famous wide. pedestrian walkway full of life, music and people at all hours of the day and night, is the perfect place to get your purse poached.""

A spokeswoman added: ""Pickpocketing is a true art and whilst thieves can strike anywhere, home or abroad, tourist hot-spots often yield far richer-pickings.

'The combination of an awe-struck traveller and a bag bulging with local currency, not to mention passports, cameras and credit cards, is an appealing prospect for any light-fingered thief.""

Tourists should be aware that they must take as much care as possible of their valuables, otherwise they might invalidate their travel insurance.

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