Carrer de Sa Lluna, Soller's main shopping thoroughfare and one of the busiest tourist spots, has been plastered with dozens of posters displaying the faces of suspected regular pickpockets in the area for several weeks. These images, created and posted by the shopkeepers themselves, include warnings in multiple languages stating "Pickpockets, ladrones, thieves" to alert visitors about the recurring presence of these offenders and to urge maximum caution.
The initiative emerged at the beginning of the tourist season amid growing concerns from local businesses about the increase in thefts in the municipality. Business owners claim that tourists constitute their primary customer base, and the perception of insecurity directly threatens their livelihood. After weeks of spotting the same individuals operating in the area, they opted for this self-protection measure.
Local police have also stepped up surveillance efforts. The Government Delegation authorised the deployment of twenty plainclothes officers at the beginning of summer, who have since been patrolling the most crowded areas: Carrer de Sa Lluna, the train station, and the seafront at Puerto Soller. According to data released in the local press in late June, officers identified as many as thirteen pickpockets in just one week. While many suspects are released when no stolen items are found during checks, other operations have resulted in arrests.
Community collaboration proving effective
The police force has publicly expressed gratitude through their social media channels for citizens' cooperation, particularly from shopkeepers and residents who raise the alarm when they notice suspicious activity. On these same platforms, the Local Police periodically share photographs of individuals identified as pickpockets to prevent further thefts. Both the police and merchants agree that increased police presence and visitor awareness are key tools in curbing criminal activity in this popular tourist destination in the Balearics.