Barcelona: pickpockets work the metro and the Ramblas, not dark alleys

Barcelona is a safe city for violent crime and a hard one for phones and wallets. Theft happens in crowds: the L3 metro line, the Ramblas, Sagrada Família's queues, the beach. Keep your phone off the café table, use a front pocket or a zipped bag worn in front, and never leave a bag on the back of a chair. If someone bumps you or asks a confusing question, check your pockets before you answer.