Warning: There ARE pickpocketers in Madrid

written May 25:

My family and I were getting on the Metro when all of a sudden three women surrounded us. They were definitely not around us while we were still waiting for the train. I was immediately suspicious. I wanted to make sure everyone got on, so they were all in front of me. All the seats on the train were taken, but no one was standing yet. So there was a lot of space in between the doors. My aunt was trying to find a good spot in the middle when I noticed all three women standing very close to my Aunt. She was oblivious to this because she was concentrating on having something to hold on to when the train starts to move. There was a lot of room around my aunt; it was unnecessary for them to get so close to her. So I looked down and sure enough saw one of the women’s hands inside my aunt’s purse. I ran to them, loudly said, “Hey!” (the only words I could think of that moment), and grabbed her hand and pulled it out of the purse. Of course she started looking and yelling at me like I was doing something bad and her friends joined in the yelling. They quickly opened the door back up and walked out of the train.

My poor Aunt. She was totally traumatized by it. I swear these people are just so freaking fast. She literally was able to open the purse and the inside pocket within seconds. Fortunately, she was unable to get anything. She picked a mini wallet out of the inside pocket but she must have dropped it back in the bag when she was caught. In a way, I kinda wish she got that wallet. It didn’t have any money inside, only random reminders and phone numbers (ie. Number to call for emergency drugs). It would have been awesome if the woman got it just to find out she got nothing in the end. Fucking ladronas!!!