Stallholders at the Hort del Rei artisan market in Palma's Almudaina Palace and Cathedral area reckon that there are up to twenty pickpockets who regularly operate in this area.
Cruise passengers are particular targets for the pickpockets, one of the artisans saying "it's always the same people and they do it with complete impunity". "They come here every day and take advantage of the massive influx of cruise passengers to go after them."
Another says: "What's shameful is that the authorities are dedicated to persecuting illegal sellers. The poor are just looking for a way to survive. They warn us when pickpockets appear." As she is speaking, a water seller in fact signals to her that he has seen two well-known thieves, one of them pregnant, who are posing as tourists.
Elderly cruise ship passengers are especially vulnerable. Like other tourists, they typically have backpacks. The stallholder explains that the pickpockets usually carry something like a map or a jacket, which can hide what may be stolen, "and empty a wallet in a flash".
"There are hardly any police here, no one to keep an eye on them, and filing a report is a hassle for them. Of course, they go after the street vendors."