'I live in Benidorm and have one big warning to anyone watching football in bars'

As gears up for its bustling peak season, a local expert has sounded the alarm about the seedier elements lurking in the popular resort. Expat Lucy cautions that while the town is famed for its stunning beaches and lively nightlife, it's also crawling with "scallies" hunting for easy prey among the tourists.

The area's pickpockets have mastered a host of sneaky tricks to dupe relaxed . When you're soaking up the sun and sipping sangria, it's all too easy to let your guard slip, particularly amid Benidorm's buzzing bar scene.

Lucy, on her singles out sports bars as hotspots where overly-friendly strangers might just be after your wallet.

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Lucy shines a light on a deception she dubs the "hugger-mugger" method, where thieves masquerading as ecstatic football fans embrace unsuspecting supporters in the guise of celebration, seizing the chance to snatch their wallet and valuables.

"Thieves will be pretending to celebrate along with other fans," Lucy explains. "They'll often have a team shirt on to blend in and whilst everybody is bouncing up and down to celebrate a goal they'll be relieving you of your personal items without you even realising."

She also reminds revelers of the risks carried by smartphones, which are not only valuable but brimming with sensitive data, including banking app details.

Lucy emphasises the importance of securing your phone data – recommending setting up a password-protected folder for sensitive and enabling two-factor authentication.

Naturally, she advises keeping your phone securely stowed in a bag or pocket, rather than casually sticking out from your jeans' back pocket.

She reveals one common tactic used by thieves to access your phone is by feigning confusion and asking for directions: "They'll ask you if you can have a look on Maps for them.

"You take your phone out, unlock it, and open the maps app – then they snatch the phone out of your hands and scarper."

Not only do they now possess your unlocked phone, Lucy warns, but they may also have memorised the code you inputted to unlock it.

The most recent statistics reveal a significant surge in Benidorm's crime rate, with criminal offences for the first half of 2022 hitting 43,438, compared to 34,857 during the same period the previous year.

Lucy cautions: "Be extra vigilant in bustling bars, around markets and high streets – anywhere there's a crowd, there's likely to be a few rogues lurking and pickpocketing."

It's not just your phone and wallet you need to be careful with, she adds, but also consider whether wearing expensive watches or jewellery is wise when you're out and about. This is particularly important, she warns, if you plan to consume any alcohol.

Lucy warns that solo travellers, especially men, are often targeted by women pretending to be sex workers. These women approach inebriated men late at night, feigning affection only to run off with their wallets.

"Some will even lead you to a secluded spot and unbuckle your trousers," Lucy explains, adding that with your pants down, you're less likely to pursue them.

Despite the embarrassment, Lucy emphasises the importance of reporting such incidents to the police. She adds: "It's unlikely you'll recover your belongings, but every report filed puts pressure on authorities to address the issue – too many thefts still go unreported here."