Three pickpockets caught red-handed at popular Tenerife viewpoint
The Guardia Civil have arrested two women and a man, aged 30, 36, and 41, accused of stealing a wallet containing €670 in cash from a tourist at the Mirador de Archipenque in the Los Gigantes area of Santiago del Teide in Tenerife.
According to investigators, the suspects acted in a coordinated manner, taking advantage of a group of visitors who were momentarily distracted. One of the trio removed the wallet from inside a backpack being carried by another member of the group.
However, officers patrolling the area spotted suspicious behaviour: while one woman waited inside a vehicle, the other two carried out the theft. Their swift intervention allowed police to recover the wallet and the full amount of cash immediately, returning it to the tourist on the spot.
The detainees have been placed at the disposal of the relevant judicial authority.
Increased vigilance in tourist zones
Police have stepped up efforts to catch pickpockets under the name Operación Miradores, which focuses on reinforcing safety at scenic viewpoints and other popular tourist areas across south Tenerife, responding to growing concerns shared by visitors online about pickpocketing incidents.
With this latest operation, the Guardia Civil reiterates its commitment to protecting tourism and preventing crime in locations with a high concentration of visitors.
Tips to avoid being robbed
Authorities remind both tourists and residents to take extra care in busy areas. Recommended precautions include:
- Avoid keeping money or important documents in backpacks worn on the back.
- Do not carry large amounts of cash.
- Keep handbags and personal items in sight at all times, especially in crowds.
- Never leave valuables inside a parked vehicle.
- Be cautious of strangers offering unsolicited help.
Citizen awareness and simple preventative measures remain essential to reducing opportunistic theft.
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