New cautionary signs aimed at British vacationers have been installed in Tenerife, the popular Spanish island known for its year-round sunny weather. The Canary Islands experienced a remarkable surge in tourism in 2024, hosting nearly 18 million visitors, marking a 10% annual increase.
Tenerife, the main attraction of the Canary Islands, drew over 6.2 million international tourists and 900,000 domestic visitors in 2024, with British travelers leading the pack at 2.8 million, surpassing German visitors threefold.
Despite Tenerife’s appealing features such as warm January temperatures, expansive sandy beaches, and affordable bars, tourists are being cautioned about the prevalence of pickpocketing and muggings on the island. Recent reports indicate a rise in theft incidents, prompting authorities to place warning signs on sidewalks and issue alerts on social media platforms.
The advisory specifically targets popular southern Tenerife destinations like Los Cristianos, Playa de las Americas, Puerto Colón, Puerto Santiago, and Los Gigantes. Various social media groups have been mobilized to report criminal activities, share images of suspected thieves, and identify high-risk areas.
While concrete statistics are scarce, there are anecdotal accounts suggesting an uptick in theft cases in certain Tenerife locales. Areas around English pubs in Los Cristianos, notably San Francisco Avenue, have been identified as particularly prone to theft, especially during nighttime and peak tourist periods.
Some car rental companies in the south have begun incorporating precautionary measures by advising customers to take steps like safeguarding valuables, avoiding conspicuous displays of wealth, and using front-carrying bags or fanny packs to deter theft.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, reported crime rates across the Canary Islands rose by 3.3% during a nine-month period last year compared to the same period in 2024, with property-related crimes showing a significant increase. Violent robberies increased by 12.8% to 1,467 incidents, while thefts rose by 3.5% to 21,889 cases, as reported by Tenerife Weekly.