Survival Guide - Discover Spain: Experience the Best of Spain - page 634

THEFT
Theft is mostly a risk in tourist resorts, big cities and when you first arrive in a new
city and may be off your guard. You are at your most vulnerable when dragging
around luggage to or from your hotel. Barcelona, Madrid and Seville have the worst
reputations for theft and, on very rare occasions, muggings.
Anything left lying on the beach can disappear in a flash when your back is
turned. Avoid dingy, empty city alleys and backstreets, or anywhere that just doesn't
feel 100% safe, at night.
Report thefts to the national police. You are unlikely to recover your goods but
you need to make this formal denuncia for insurance purposes. To avoid endless
queues at the comisaría (police station), you can make the report by phone ( 902
102 112) in various languages or on the web at www.policia.es (click on Denun-
cias). The following day you go to the station of your choice to pick up and sign the
report, without queuing.

Telephone
The ubiquitous blue payphones are easy to use for international and domestic calls.
They accept coins, phonecards (tarjetas telefónicas) issued by the national phone
company Telefónica and, in some cases, various credit cards. Calling from your
computer using an internet-based service such as Skype is generally the cheapest
option of all.

COLLECT CALLS
International collect calls (una llamada a cobro revertido) are simple. Dial 99 00

followed by the code for the country you're calling:

Australia 900 99 00 61

Canada 900 99 00 15

France 900 99 00 33

Germany 900 99 00 49

Ireland 900 99 03 53