Crime in Barcelona on increase, says city council

Barcelona City Council has recognized that an increase in crime in the city is a "reality." It's an "undesired, problematic situation," said the councillor for security, Amadeu Recasens on Wednesday.

During a commission addressing the issue of safety in the capital, Recasens highlighted that the crimes that have surged the most have been of "a patrimonial nature, and theft."

In response, opposition groups have called on the council to implement "solid measures" against the increase of crime in Barcelona.

Rescasens was also accused of "not doing enough" throughout what has been "a dramatic summer."

Barcelona: pickpocket capital of the world?

Pickpockets are known for being drawn to tourist hotspots, and Barcelona is no different. In fact, a list created by the world's leading travel forum Trip Advisor put the city at number one as the worst place for pickpockets worldwide. Eight out of the top ten citieswere European.

 In at number two was Rome, followed by Prague and Madrid. The only two non-European cities that made it into the list were Buenos Aires in Argentina (7^th) and Hanoi in Vietnam (10^th).