Brits warned of pickpocket surge in Spanish holiday hotspot ahead of summer

island has been hit with an influx of thieves hunting for a five-finger discount.

Nearly 50 pickpockets and petty thieves preying on tourists have been apprehended in the past month by police in Majorca. The problem has gotten so bad the force has called in early reinforcements to combat an anticipated summer crime surge.

The National Police on the holiday island has initiated 'Operation Summer' ahead of schedule by bringing in additional officers from the mainland. These officers specialise in 'prevent and rapid response' crimefighting and will work alongside local police employed by the town hall.

A spokesperson for the force in Majorca said: "They will serve on the island for a month as a prelude to the incorporation of other units who will work in the municipality of Palma ahead of the arrival of reinforcements in Manacor in Majorca, and Menorca. So far 19 people have been arrested in Palma's Playa de Palma coastal area, most pickpockets and petty thieves operating at night-time. And in Palma's urban area itself 30 people have been arrested who are also mostly pickpockets."

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According to police the culprits were swiping belongings from holidaymakers, including wallets and purses containing ID documents and bank cards, which they subsequently used for shopping or withdrawing cash from ATMs.

"When they were arrested, officers discovered a rental car that hadn't been returned to the hire company, leading to suspicions that they intended to keep it. €1,200 in cash was also seized, along with two mobile phones each worth over £850, documents, and other high-end stolen items like designer sunglasses" the spokesperson said.

All the recovered items had been reported as stolen and have since been returned to their rightful owners.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, police apprehended two minors in Playa de Palma who were spotted crawling across the sand to steal from tourists who were in the sea. They were intercepted and the stolen goods retrieved.

According to the police, the detainees reacted violently during their arrest, kicking and punching the officers.

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On Tuesday afternoon around 3.30pm near Palma Cathedral, two pickpockets were caught by police while stealing a purse from a tourist's bag. The bag, containing $1,500 (£1,180) was returned to the tourist.

A police source said: "The criminals we are tackling with Operation Summer are primarily targeting tourists who tend to be more distracted and carry large amounts of cash with them. Undercover coppers, disguised as holidaymakers to blend in better, have been catching thieves red-handed."

Although Playa de Palma, east of the Majorcan capital, is more frequented by German and Dutch tourists than Brits, British visitors to the island centre are among the top victims.

Every summer, the Civil Guard also drafts in additional forces in Majorca to deal with the surge of criminals who set up base on the island during peak season, exploiting the increased number of potential targets compared to winter.