The Canary Islands are the number one destination in Europe for winter sun with millions heading to the archipelago to escape the cold of their own country, however, this also attracts some unwelcome guests in the form of pickpockets and opportunist thieves who take advantage of unaware tourists not taking as much care as they normally would do whilst on their holidays.
Reports are already surfacing on social media of people complaining and warning of their presence in various holiday resorts, including Playa de Las Americas, Los Cristianos, and Callao Salvaje in Tenerife, Playa Del Ingles in Gran Canaria, and Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote.
The thieves, who spend summer in other resorts across Spain and Europe, come here every winter and also target rent-a-cars, particularly when parked in isolated areas at tourist hotspots, taking high-value items left inside in just a few minutes.
Every year the police advise and warn people to be more diligent by not carrying much money on them, not having PIN numbers and cards in wallets, being attentive to any strangers approaching them for any reason, and not leaving valuables on show in cars.
In the past, people have also complained that the authorities don’t do anything about the pickpockets, as they have seen them back on the streets after being arrested by the police.
However, the police have also complained in the past that they are powerless to do anything unless they are caught in the act, but earlier this year a new law was passed that does give them more power to charge them as the ‘value amount of possession’ was lowered to make it easier for them to be arrested, charged or imprisoned, especially if repeat offenders.
