If you let worries about pick pocketing put you off, then you will do yourself out of some wonderful experiences in life.

Yes, obviously pickpockets are an issue in Barcelona and Rome and Paris and London....and just about anywhere where there are lots of targets who make good victims (lots of cash on then, cameras etc.). Should it make you more vigilant? Yes of course. Should it put you off going? Definitely not.

Btw. my own anecdote of Barcelona is completely the opposite. After spending the day sightseeing we were at the Hard Rock Café when my husband realised his wallet was missing. Fearing the worst my husband went to the police station to report it, whilst my mum and I retraced our steps. We were extremely grateful when we realised it had in fact been handed it at La Pedrera, with all it's contents. So yes, bad things can happen, but so you may also be positively surprised.