New cautionary signs aimed at British holidaymakers have appeared in Tenerife.
The Spanish island, nestled off the West African coast and famed for its year-round sunshine, is a favourite destination among UK travellers. The Canary Islands experienced a remarkable year in 2024, welcoming nearly 18 million visitors, marking a 10% annual increase.
Tenerife is the star attraction, drawing more than 6.2 million international tourists and over 900,000 domestic visitors. British tourists lead the pack, with 2.8 million sun-seekers visiting in 2024 – three times the number of German visitors.
While Tenerife’s allure lies in its balmy January temperatures exceeding 20C, expansive sandy beaches and affordable bars, it does have a downside. Tourists can fall prey to pickpockets and muggers.
In response to a surge in muggings and robberies, British tourists frequenting Tenerife’s most popular resorts are now being alerted about potential pickpocket threats. New warning signs have been placed on pavements to inform visitors of the risks, and messages are also being disseminated to hundreds of thousands of social media users.
Have you had an unfortunate experience while holidaying in Tenerife? Please email webtravel@reachplc.com
The warnings cover popular southern Tenerife destinations including Los Cristianos, Playa de las Americas, Puerto Colón, Puerto Santiago and Los Gigantes. Several Facebook communities are now being utilised to report such incidents, with photographs of suspected pickpockets circulated and high-risk locations identified.
Whilst concrete statistics are unavailable, anecdotal evidence suggests theft cases are increasing in certain parts of Tenerife. One particularly notorious area is around English pubs in Los Cristianos, especially San Francisco Avenue, which has gained a reputation as a high-risk zone, particularly at night and during peak tourist periods.
On one Facebook group, a user recently recounted: “Two pickpockets in Los Cristianos were surprised and arrested by my husband when they tried to steal a woman’s purse”, describing a spontaneous intervention to prevent a robbery on a public street. Additional reports mention stolen mobile phones, hotel room cards and wallets.
Some car rental firms in the south have started incorporating warning messages for their clients as a precautionary measure. These companies advise customers to adopt practices that minimise theft risk, such as keeping mobile phones off tables, avoiding carrying wallets containing large sums of money and opting to carry only cash and essential cards.
They also recommend the use of bum bags, carrying bags on the front of the body and not leaving valuables inside vehicles.
During a nine-month period last year, crime rates in the Canary Islands saw a 3.3% rise compared to the same months in 2024, as per the Ministry of the Interior. The archipelago recorded 83,358 criminal offences in the first nine months of the year, an increase from 80,707 during the same period in 2024.
The report underscored a significant surge in property-related crimes, with 1,467 violent robberies recorded (+12.8%) and 21,889 thefts (+3.5%), according to Tenerife Weekly.