Brazen Barcelona bag theft caught on camera as thief drags bag with foot in crowded square
Video shows a thief sliding a bag away from a diner's table in Sant Josep Oriol Square; authorities say pickpocketing remains a persistent concern in Barcelona's tourist zones.
A brazen thief used his left foot to drag a bag from beneath a diner's table in a crowded Barcelona square, then retrieved it and walked away as bystanders filmed the moment on their phones. The incident occurred in Sant Josep Oriol Square, a small pedestrian plaza beside the Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi, a site described by visitors as a very touristy spot in the Gothic Quarter.
The attacker mingled with other tourists before approaching a bar terrace table where three friends were chatting. In a deft move that went largely unnoticed by passers-by, he slid the bag a couple of feet along the ground away from the chair it had been left at and waited to see if anyone would notice. When a nearby holidaymaker photographed him and moved on, the thief stooped down, picked up the bag, and tucked it into a larger holdall he was carrying before calmly walking away. Footage shows him dressed in a T-shirt, shorts and trainers, appearing composed as he executed the maneuver. He also appeared to be making a phone call as he left, a detail that has led some authorities to speculate that he might be passing the items to an accomplice to avoid police attention.
Police sources said it is common for criminals to disguise themselves as tourists to go unnoticed in crowded areas. There have not yet been any reports of an arrest in connection with the incident. The nationalities of the friends who were sitting at the table and targeted during the theft were not disclosed.
The incident underscores the ongoing challenge that Barcelona faces with pickpocketing and bag theft in its most visited spots. Sant Josep Oriol Square sits in the Gothic Quarter near the Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi and is frequently described as a magnet for tourists. In recent years, locals and authorities have urged visitors to keep valuables out of sight, avoid isolated side streets, and be cautious in metro hubs during peak times. Some travelers have adopted extreme precautions, such as securing handbags to their legs while dining or leaving valuables in hotel safes, to reduce the risk of theft in busy areas.
The broader context of theft in Barcelona has included high-profile incidents in recent months. Last month, a thief who snatched a chain from a Portuguese tourist faced a rapid counterpunch when two Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts intervened after hearing the victim scream. Brothers Gabriel and Gustavo Galindo tackled the suspect, with Gabriel applying a chokehold until police arrived about ten minutes later. The brothers posted footage of the confrontation online, drawing applause from locals and visitors. They also protected the suspect from punches and kicks while he was pinned on the ground.
Earlier in the year, a separate incident in Barcelona saw a thief tackled by a tourist after attempting to steal a camera; and last year, Sir Ben Ainslie said he was robbed of a £16,000 Rolex at knifepoint by a Barcelona watch gang. While such episodes attract notable attention, officials stress that most thefts occur in crowded spaces and on busy transit routes, and travelers are urged to stay vigilant and minimize the display of valuable items.