Europe's worst pickpocketing hotspot named as street in Spain loved by tourists

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Las Ramblas is crowded all year round but is usually busiest during the peak summer season (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The world’s worst spot for pickpockets has been named as a popular Spanish tourist spot.

Barcelona’s busy pedestrianised street, Las Ramblas, took the top spot when it came to thieves nabbing possessions.

There were over 3,270 reviews mentioning pickpockets on the famous street which is first on many tourists’ checklists.

Las Ramblas is crowded all year round but is usually busiest during the peak summer season.

The boulevard runs down to the port and is usually packed with street performers, artists and living statues.

The area around Paris’s iconic Eiffel Tower was the second worst hotspot for pickpocketing in the world, reports The Express.

The area around Paris’s iconic Eiffel Tower was the second worst hotspot for pickpocketing (Getty Images)

As one of the city’s top attractions that’s often very crowded, it’s unsurprising that thieves tend to target tourists there.

Tourists should keep their wits about them at the famous landmark because pickpockets may target distracted people.

Italy’s Trevi Fountain took the third spot and is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions.

Train stations, airports and other public transport hubs could also be targets for opportunistic pickpockets.

Italy’s Trevi Fountain took the third spot and is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions (Getty Images)

Paris had the most pickpocketing hotspots of any European city, with Sacre Coeur, the Louvre and Notre Dame making the list.

Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia was also included while Rome’s Colosseum was another popular area for theft.

If a tourist is a victim of pickpockets, they should contact the local police or ask their accommodation provider for help.

They can also check if their items are covered by travel or home insurance to see if they can make a claim.