Comments on: That Time I Called my Couchsurfing Host from Jail…

By: Ruben

Ruben — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 20:49:18 +0000

“and those losers spent who knows how many nights in jail”

Only until they’re taken to the court the next working day (or even the same day if it happened in the morning) so a judge decides what to do and, in those cases, they are always released. So they stayed in jail from none to 3 (if that happened on late Friday) nights. Sadly our city is famous not only for its nice things, but also for thieves, specially on the subway.

By: Jeanne/Bohemian Agent

Jeanne/Bohemian Agent — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 17:25:18 +0000

I moved to the Barcelona region of Spain last year and it’s so true! I never got robbed, but those mofos are always on the hunt. Be extra careful with anything that you can’t live without. I love the idea of the World Nomads Travel Insurance though! It’s so awesome that you chased them down and got your camera back. You go sister girl!

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 13:26:24 +0000

In reply to Dev. haha omg!! That's insane - what the heck! You better use a fake ID next time you are there lol

By: Dev

Dev — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 12:52:12 +0000

I had a very similar thing happen while in Valencia. Gypsy pickpocket grabbed my friends clutch with her LIFE in it, we somehow wrestled him to ground and held him down until luckily a male friend happened to walk by and flagged down police, turns out the theif had a knife! Same deal, spent 5 hours cooped up in a tiny police station making a report, had to go to court TWICE . Man was my adrenaline UP. After I returned home in the states my friend living in Valencia got a notice in the mail stating her and I had to appear in court a 3rd time or we would be subject to upto 5000 euro fine- I havent been back to Spain since so still not sure if my name is clear there, ha! Glad you got your camera and photos back

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 19:39:56 +0000

In reply to Cest La Vibe. Yes it was so scary!

By: Cest La Vibe

Cest La Vibe — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 07:36:49 +0000

Temporarily losing those pics must have been a bummer! Especially if it was tons of pics from your last few trips that you didn’t get a chance to copy to your computer!

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 05:32:57 +0000

In reply to Samantha.

I’ve heard it’s really common there! I heard too late though :( It’s just shocking – that was the first time I was robbed and coming from a small town it’s never been a worry. Good thing back then I was fit playing soccer and track for school – if it happened now they would have got away most likely.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 18:48:50 +0000

Ha! It would be funny that we had the same first experience in Barcelona, but unfortunately it’s a common one. I was maybe thirteen on a visit with my family and we were immediately pick-pocked on the train upon arrival, in almost the same fashion. Luckily the two dads with us were also brave and chased down the thieves to get their wallets back! The Barcelona metros are notorious for this kind of crime, which in spite of being absolutely unacceptable and a nuisance is fortunately hardly ever violent or particularly dangerous.

I’m sure that you won’t fall for the same trap again, but just in case a need ever arises, the Spanish word that you’re looking for is “PUTA!” ;)

By: Elen

Elen — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 14:51:15 +0000

Well done! I guess in the heat of anger I’d do the same and chase them, but it’s probably a good idea to think quickly and consider whether it’s safe to go after them. My friend was pickpocketed on a train in Rome, same kind of situation, but we didn’t go after them. Kind of wish we had now…

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 12:13:23 +0000

In reply to Derek Freal. hahah, yeah the title was tricky ;) and omg what a shame about your gear, so sorry!

By: Derek Freal

Derek Freal — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 18:18:14 +0000

Congrats on not only catching them and retrieving your camera but also for managing to recover all of your photos. That is awesome! I was expecting a different story given the title of this post hahaha ;)

Luckily I’ve never been pickpocketed quite like that. However I had both my cameras and a brand new cellphone stolen about six months ago on a flight from Jakarta to Manila. Of course it was my own fault for accidentally packing all those goodies in my checked-in luggage. Live and learn, right?

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 16:32:45 +0000

In reply to Chanel | Cultural Xplorer. yes it was so so lucky!

By: Chanel | Cultural Xplorer

Chanel | Cultural Xplorer — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 00:37:13 +0000

Ah! Sorry to hear you got robbed in BCN :( Glad you were able to get your camera (and memories back) though!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 05:35:58 +0000

In reply to Jamie. it's a nice thought, but these police were so disorganized i doubt anyone saw their things :(

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 16:38:50 +0000

In reply to Stef. Man what a bummer for your friend! I've heard horror stories about Barcelona, I should have been more careful. I also should have studied my spanish more haha you were lucky there!

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 13:01:15 +0000

Good for your for chasing the a$$holes down. I like to think I would’ve done the same thing. Hopefully some other people had their things returned as well as a result of it.

By: Stef

Stef — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 12:35:04 +0000

OMG what a story. Good for you that you got your camera back, especially that you could back up all your photos. Barcelona is really bad in terms of pickpocketing. My best friend was robbed her purse there, when we were on the way from the airport to the city centre – in the beginning of our holidays. Awesome.
And I guess it should be worse if you don’t speak Spanish. Luckily, I speak Spanish so we could deal with the situation more easily but still had to go to three different police station to get her a temporary ID…but without Spanish, I think we would have been totally lost there.