Originally Posted by
Littlegirl
I love Spain but I have witnessed a businessman's briefcase being stollen at our hotel reception desk. The thief, dressed in a suit and posing as a businessman himself, just stood next to the man while he was distracted checking in, just leant down and picked up his briefcase and quickly walked out.
So always put your briefcase on the counter and lean on it and wedge your wheelie in front of you while at the desk checking in.
I was a victim of exactly this scam at - of all places - the reception desk of the Four Seasons Hotel in Mexico City, way back in 1995. My laptop bag was taken from my feet as I was writing a fax (remember those?!) whilst leaning on the reception counter. Laptops were a rare commodity in those days - I think our department had three - and the experience was made rather worse by the fact that my charming Wall Street employers doubted my explanation, suspecting instead that I might have retained the machine for my own personal use!
I haven't had any trouble on my many visits to Barcelona - but I haven't visited since youth unemployment hit 50%, which probably changes the incentives somewhat.