Why foreigners get caught out
Many tourists do not report small thefts because they are leaving soon. Without a report, insurers will not pay, unauthorised card payments are harder to dispute and the police cannot link your property to a suspect. If the thief is caught and you are not identified as a victim, you may never get your belongings back.
Step by step
1. Protect your money and data
Call your bank to block cards, use your phone's find-and-erase function and change the passwords for email, banking and social media. Note the time of the theft, which helps if card fraud follows.
2. Report the theft
Go to the nearest Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil station. You can report with an interpreter. For thefts without violence, the Policía Nacional also offers an online report form, which must be signed in person at a station within a short period. Ask for a copy of the report.
3. Your passport
Contact your consulate or embassy for an emergency travel document, taking the police report with you. Several countries have consulates or honorary consuls in Palma.
4. Insurance and card disputes
Send the police report to your travel or home insurer and to your bank if there were unauthorised payments. Card fraud after a theft can also be reported as a separate offence. See fraud.
Theft or robbery?
If the property was taken without force or violence, it is theft; if the thief used violence, such as snatching a bag from your hand or pushing you, it is robbery, with higher penalties. Tell the police exactly what happened, as it affects the charge. See theft and robbery.
If the thief is caught
Thieves caught in the act often go to a fast-track trial within days. As the victim, you can give evidence, recover your property and claim compensation. If you have already left Spain, a lawyer can join the case on your behalf and arrange remote evidence. See victims of crime.
A practical example
A Canadian couple had a bag snatched in Palma's old town, containing passports, cards and a camera. Police arrested the thief the same day with other tourists' property. We joined the case on their behalf after they flew home, obtained the return of the camera and a compensation order for the cash taken. More information on the firm's main website: theft cases in Palma (in Spanish).
Before you sign or say anything, call a lawyer
In a Spanish criminal case, what happens in the first hours shapes everything else. Call or WhatsApp us and an English-speaking criminal lawyer will tell you, in confidence, what to do next.
Questions about thefts on holiday in Spain
Do I need a police report for a stolen phone?
Yes. Insurers, banks and phone companies usually require it.
Can I report a theft online in Spain?
For thefts without violence, the Policía Nacional has an online form, which must then be signed in person at a station.
Can I get my property back if I have left Spain?
Yes. A lawyer can follow the case and request the return of your property.
Is a bag snatch theft or robbery?
If the thief used force against you, such as pulling the bag from your hand, it is usually robbery.