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By Matthew Impelli
Life & Trends Reporter
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What started as a routine ride to the airport quickly changed course for one traveler in Barcelona who says thieves carried out a distraction he barely noticed until it was too late.
British television presenter Spencer Kelly turned to TikTok, as user spencerkellytech, to share videos detailing how some of his belongings were robbed from him while on a train in Spain.
In the first video, Kelly explained that the incident happened while he was traveling to the airport after finishing a work event in Barcelona.
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Kelly said he was sitting in a relatively quiet train carriage on the L9 airport line with two pieces of luggage in front of him: a small rolling suitcase and a rucksack that contained his passport.
Held Up Two Fingers
As the train stopped at a station, a man sitting beside him asked for help confirming the stop.
The stranger asked whether they had reached the station and Kelly turned toward the window to check. He said he answered the question and the man quickly stepped off the train just as the doors closed.
Moments later, Kelly looked down and realized his rucksack had disappeared. Only two other passengers remained in the carriage.
Confused, he asked what had happened and a woman on the train pointed toward the platform to show the bag had been taken.
Kelly said the woman held up two fingers indicating that two people had been involved in the theft. According to her, one person distracted him with the question while another grabbed the bag and exited the train before the doors shut.
Kelly said he had heard of the tactic before but, “in the moment, they got me,” adding that although the situation was stressful he was grateful the robbery involved no violence or threats.
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‘Seedy place’
The video prompted a wave of responses from TikTok viewers recounting their own experiences with pickpocketing in major European cities.
“I had my phone lifted in the same way in Barcelona," shared one, adding, "It ended up in Africa the next week."
Another pundit questioned the situation surrounding the theft, remarking, “I'm surprised you didn't keep your passport on your person."
Meanwhile, others pointed to Barcelona’s reputation among travelers for street theft.
“Keep hearing this about Barcelona," a critic shared, "Seedy place now."
In a follow-up video, Kelly said the first relief after the theft was realizing his main phone and credit cards were still in his pocket. Because they were not inside the stolen bag, he could contact people and secure his accounts.
Kelly also searched online for ways to remotely lock his Android devices and log out of apps. Using his phone he was able to secure his tablet and other accounts.
How to Avoid Pickpockets
Reports of theft aimed at tourists often involve phones, wallets and travel documents.
Newsweek reported about a TikTok video that went viral after it captured a woman in Italy repeatedly calling out pickpockets in the city of Venice.
In addition to money and valuable personal items, the woman said that some pickpockets will try to remove passports from tourists: "People are pickpocketed for their American or English passport, then to return to their country they have to go to the embassy in [...] Rome.”
Newsweek also covered a TikTok video where an American woman shared a number of tips on how to avoid being a victim of pickpocketing in different European countries.
Newsweek has reached out to representatives of Spencer Kelly for comment via email. We could not verify the details of the case.
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