The short answer
- In tourists’ reviews, the worst European cities for pickpockets are Paris, Rome and Barcelona. Paris alone accounted for 16.5% of 13,293 theft-related Google reviews in a 2025 study of 100 major destinations.
- Pickpockets work the same kinds of places in every city: the main station, the busiest metro line, the tourist bus or tram, and the crowd at the big sight.
- Three habits stop most of it: backpack in front on public transport, phone in a front pocket, and walk away from anyone offering a bracelet, a petition or a “found” ring.
- If it happens: block your cards, lock your phone, report it to the police. 112 works across the EU; in the UK it’s 999.
Which European cities have the most pickpockets?
There is no official Europe-wide count of pickpocketing, so the best public comparison comes from what tourists report. In a 2025 study, the luggage-storage network Radical Storage analysed 13,293 Google reviews that mention theft, posted between October 2024 and November 2025, across 100 of the world’s most visited cities. Three European cities came out on top for theft-related reviews:
Share of all theft-related reviews (100 cities)
Source: Radical Storage, “The World’s Pickpocket Capitals”. English-language Google reviews only; it reflects what tourists write, not police figures, and very busy cities like Paris get more reviews overall.
The cities compared: where they work and what to do
The hotspots, the signature trick and the number to call in the six cities European travellers ask about most.
| City | Where pickpockets work | Signature trick | Call | How to report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Full guide → | Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro, Sacré-Cœur, the Louvre, Metro line 1, Gare du Nord and RER B, Champs-Élysées | Friendship bracelet, fake petition, "found" gold ring | 112 · police 17 | Complaint (plainte) at a police station; start it online as a pré-plainte |
| Rome Full guide → | Termini station, Metro line A, bus 64 to the Vatican, the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps | Rose or bracelet "gift", fake plain-clothes police | 112 | Report (denuncia) to the Carabinieri or Polizia di Stato |
| Barcelona Full guide → | La Rambla and La Boqueria, Metro L1 and L3, Sagrada Família, Barceloneta beach, Gothic Quarter, Plaça de Catalunya | Stain on your jacket, beach towel grab, fake police | 112 | Report (denuncia) to the Mossos d’Esquadra |
| London Full guide → | Oxford Street and the West End, Westminster, Covent Garden, Camden Market, busy Tube stations | Ride-by phone snatch from a bike or e-bike | 999 · non-emergency 101 | Met Police online or 101; keep the crime reference number |
| Prague Full guide → | Charles Bridge, the Astronomical Clock, tram 22, Wenceslas Square, the metro, Prague Castle | Street money changer, tram door squeeze | 112 · police 158 | Police station in the Old Town Hall, Old Town Square |
| Amsterdam | Centraal Station, Dam Square and Damrak, trams, the Red Light District, Kalverstraat | Distraction: a push, a touch or a request for directions | 112 · non-emergency 0900-8844 | Dutch police online, or at a station by appointment |
Our hotspot ratings
In each of our city guides we rate six hotspots from 1 to 5 for pickpocket risk, based on police advice and travel-safety reporting. Added up, this is how the cities compare. It’s our editorial judgement, not a crime statistic, but it shows where you need to be most careful.
| City | Risk score (max 30) | Spots rated 5/5 | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome | 27 | 4 | Read the Rome guide |
| Paris | 26 | 3 | Read the Paris guide |
| Prague | 26 | 3 | Read the Prague guide |
| Barcelona | 25 | 2 | Read the Barcelona guide |
| London | 25 | 1 | Read the London guide |
The tricks you’ll see in every city
- The bracelet or the rose: a ‘gift’ is put in your hand or tied on your wrist, then comes the demand for money, and sometimes a partner at your pockets. Keep your hands in your pockets and walk on.
- The petition: a clipboard ‘for charity’ makes you look down while a partner looks into your bag. Common in Paris and Rome.
- The door push: a group crowds you as metro or tram doors close and gets off at the next stop with your wallet or phone.
- The stain: someone ‘helpfully’ cleans something off your jacket while a partner takes your bag. Classic in Barcelona.
- The fake police: a ‘plain-clothes officer’ asks to check your wallet for fake money. Real police don’t. Walk into a busy shop.
- The ride-by snatch: a rider on a bike or e-bike grabs the phone from your hand. London’s big one.
- The street money changer: a great exchange rate on the street, paid in worthless or foreign notes. Prague’s classic. Use a bank ATM.
10 rules that work in every city
- Backpack in front on the metro, trams and buses.
- Phone in a front pocket, never in a back pocket and never on a café table.
- Use your phone away from the kerb, so nobody on a bike can grab it.
- Say no to bracelets, roses, petitions and ‘found’ jewellery, and keep walking.
- Stand away from the doors on public transport. If a group crowds you, get off and wait.
- Watch shows and clocks from the edge of the crowd, not the middle.
- Leave your passport in the hotel safe and carry a photo of it.
- Carry one card and leave a backup at the hotel.
- Turn on Find My and write down your phone’s IMEI (dial *#06#).
- Buy tickets in the app or at the counter, not with a stranger ‘helping’ at the machine.
One more: get an eSIM before you fly so you have data from the moment you land, which you’ll need to lock a stolen phone or block a card. Saily lists code Indoleads for 5% off (get Saily), and our eSIM vs roaming guide compares the costs. For flights and trains, see our Trip.com codes.
Frequently asked questions
Which European city has the most pickpockets?
Paris, according to tourists' reviews. A 2025 analysis of 13,293 theft-related Google reviews across 100 major destinations by Radical Storage found Paris accounted for 16.5% of them, followed by Rome (10.7%) and Barcelona (5.3%). The study measures what tourists write in reviews, not police statistics.
Is Barcelona or Rome worse for pickpockets?
In the same review study, Rome (10.7% of theft-related reviews) ranked above Barcelona (5.3%). In both cities the risk is concentrated in a few places: Termini, Metro line A and bus 64 in Rome; La Rambla and Metro lines L1 and L3 in Barcelona.
Where do pickpockets work in European cities?
In the same kinds of places everywhere: main train stations, the busiest metro lines, tourist buses and trams, queues at the big sights, and crowds watching something, such as a street performer or the Prague Astronomical Clock.
What is the most common pickpocket trick in Europe?
Distraction. Someone ties a bracelet on your wrist, asks you to sign a petition, spills something on you or pushes you at a metro door, while a partner takes your phone or wallet.
What should I do if I'm pickpocketed in Europe?
Block your cards in your banking app, lock or erase your phone with Find My, then report the theft to the local police and keep the report for your insurer. 112 works for emergencies across the EU; in the UK call 999.
Sources: Radical Storage (theft-related Google reviews, Oct 2024 to Nov 2025); I amsterdam: police and safety; Prague-trip.com: safety; city police and travel-safety guides cited in each city guide. Risk scores are Spicy Coupons’ editorial ratings. Last checked: 15 October 2026. We may earn a commission from links on this page.
