Crime in Madrid, Spain

Good grief, we live in Madrid. It is shockingly safe. No guns, people are calm, the drivers are extremely careful because pedestrians are everywhere in crosswalks. People
mind their own business. There ARE pickpockets that are pros, so in crowds you just need to keep track of your stuff. But to highlight the difference between the violent U.S.
and Madrid/Spain, we were in a little hamburger joint the other day and a homeless drug addict walked in, looked behind the counter, opened the kitchen door and grabbed the box of money. The woman in the kitchen saw him, told him forcefully, to put it back, while waiving her finger at him. He stopped, turned around and brought it back to her. Another example, we were on the train the other day and three 20 yr olds with tattoos,very rough looking, were standing at the door waiting for the train to stop to get off and when we stood up and came near the door, they immediately stepped back to let the “mayores” (old people) have priority (I’m early 50s, hubby 60 but young and in good shape, we aren’t disabled or anything). My husband said “no, no, it’s ok” in Spanish and they smiled and said no no you go. At which point I joked about the fact we must be mayores! The young guys broke out warm grins from ear to ear. There is a kindness and value placed on human health, safety and respect that is not equaled in the gun infused United States that has lousy to no healthcare for so many. I’m daily amazed at how hard life is in the US compared to here. We have not been in the areas here that might be a bit more seedy, but even those areas, no guns.

A very safe city from an American standpoint. I never got robbed or anything, and always kept my eye out for any pickpockets. The metro is great, the food is great, and the nightlife is wonderful. I plan on going again this summer

My wife and me were mugged in Madrid, general perception of lack of safety even in highstreet, can't be considered ad a safe place.

Appalling situation of the street crime this summer.
Went in a tour, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla and Madrid. Only in Madrid I was molested by an aggressive group of Argelians and a friend of mine was mugged and seriously injured.
I am afraid I can't recommend.

Me and two friends were mugged, a friend from RSA had his wallet stolen.
Plenty of aggressive Nigerians selling fake gods in the downtown, they even dare to challenge the police, even in high street, as if we were in Lagos.
Going outdoors at night might be so dangerous.
Definitely a quite dangerous, city specially at night.

AS a tour guide and expat i see and hear a lot. In the past six years Madrid has cleaned up and tripled its police force leading to almost no crime from my point of view. 10 years ago many customers had been victims before i met them, over the past 3 years....only one. Madrid is safe at anytime as in the summer i go cycling with my 5 years old at midnight with no worries.....

I'm Irish, I've lived in Madrid for almost 2 years, working as a teacher. I have lived in New York, Dallas, Connecticut, London and Dublin, and I find Madrid to be safer and friendlier than any of the above. I have come home at all hours of the day and night, walked alone through many streets, and never had a problem - except occasionally with attempted pickpocketing (never violent). Usually late at night, when I was under the influence! I was pick-pocketed successfully only once, in my first week here on Cava Baja by a guy who came up offering a "high five" (to get your hand in the air) and he started tapping my shins with his foot, like he was playing at football - a distraction the police call the "Ronaldinho". Watch out for this. However, after this happened, I had no problem spotting suspicious approaches. The pickpockets don't get into any serious trouble for stealing, but there are severe consequences for violence, so it rarely happens. Madrid is a city of many neighbourhoods (Malasaña, Lavapíes, Chueca, La Latina etc) with many great bars and restaurants, you will have a great time here. The poster who spoke of only going out at night with "armed guards" seems to me to be completely paranoid and off his/her rocker! Madrid is by far my favourite city to live in, and I like to party - I'm out several nights a week to all hours and I thoroughly recommend it! The only tip I can offer re pick-pockets is to carry your notes in a clip or a flat plastic wallet, making it hard for thieves to easily see where your money is - I had a fat wallet in my front jeans pocket the (one) time I was robbed! And don't carry a fortune on your person, I never take more than about 50 euros from an ATM. Also, I have never found the Madrileños to be either aggressive OR rude, in fact the oposite - they are very friendly when you speak with them. Madrid is great!

Franco era? How easy is to be opinionated without a cultural background of the situation. Barcelona wants to go back to Middle Ages era, then.

The most UNSAFE city in Europe.About 3 of the rooms on the 7th floor of a hotel got broken into. Money,i iphones,jewelry etc taken. They entered by key card. Police were called and didnt want to know. Corrupt as hell.

Lots of streets have weird men looking at you like you are a piece of meat. Pickpockets in touristic places.

Hey Gary,

Your poor friends, to me it sounds as though the hotel saw them coming and probably got them to drink in the hotel bar rather than roam the beautiful and (in my opinion) very safe streets of Madrid!

I found the comments and ratings on Madrid very interesting because they go against what I have heard from friends who visited there. The were told in no uncertain terms by the staff at the hotel where they were staying that is was no safe to go outdoors at night unless accompanied by a guard, preferably armed. The hotel involved would supply staff if necessary. So, they didn't go out at night. This was not that long ago, so maybe things have changed recently. At the same time they spent time in Barcelona and southern Spain with no difficulties at all. We were in southern Spain recently and we found no problems other than is seems like about 50% of the population of Barcelona wants to separate from Spain and go back to being independent as they feel that the Spanish government has not moved far enough and fast enough away from the Franco era.