There are safe cities, there are unsafe cities. There are disreputable but harmless places, there are the opposite cases. And then there are tourist towns. Istanbul, for example, the overwhelming metropolis of 15 million and just as many visitors every year, has a relatively low crime rate – and ranks last in a theft ranking of tourist cities. Which is good, because that means: of the 25 most popular European visitor strongholds, the Bosphorus megacity is the safest.
Mallorca visitors can rest assured
For the theft risk ranking Paul Camper mediation platform examined 25 frequently visited cities in Europe. From Istanbul via Zurich to Palma de Mallorca. The statistics include, among other things, pickpocketing and car theft. The data (from police statistics, local reporting and Eurostat) was used to extrapolate how often tourists actually fall victim to thieves.
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The opposite of Istanbul is 2,000 kilometers further northwest: in Milan, especially in front of the famous cathedral, the risk of being stolen by pickpockets is particularly high. “On average, around one in 162 tourists is robbed. The Milan police count more than 21,500 cases of pickpocketing every year,” says Paul Camper.
Cars are particularly unsafe to park in France
The British capital London is also one of the more dangerous destinations. Thieves particularly strike in Westminster and Camden Market: a total of one in 367 tourists is robbed. On the other hand, visitors to Germany’s favorite island of Mallorca can be relatively calm. In Palma, only about one in 1,600 tourists becomes a victim of theft.
Five tips against theft
- Don’t allow yourself to be spoken to or given gifts. This is a trick to distract you.
- Use bags with lockable zippers.
- Never leave bags and valuables unattended, not even in a café or on the beach
- Choose a parking space that is either guarded or at least well lit.
- Use anti-theft devices! An unsecured vehicle is an invitation to thieves.
France is the most unsafe country for cars. Nowhere else are more vehicles stolen. The theft rate is around 242 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Behind them are Switzerland with 217 cases and Italy with 213 cases.
Those: Paul Camper, Swiss Foreign Ministry
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