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Are pickpockets a problem in Stockholm?

Brå figures, travel advice and the Swedish Police's tips against pickpockets.

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Short answer

Brå recorded 16,611 reported pickpocketing offences in Sweden in 2025, 13 percent fewer than in 2024, and the UK government warns that pickpockets often target tourists in major cities. The figures are national, and Brå's survey found residents of large cities and nearby municipalities more exposed than people in other types of municipality.

Stockholm Illustration of a shield with a check mark, a warning triangle and a police light for safety in Sweden

Why

  1. According to Brå, 16,611 pocket thefts were reported in 2025, a decrease of 13 percent from the year before and 67 percent lower than in 2016.
  2. According to Brå's national survey, 1.1 percent of the population said they were exposed to pocket theft in 2025, and residents of large cities and nearby municipalities were more exposed than residents of other municipality groups.
  3. According to the UK government, pickpockets often target tourists for passports and cash in major cities.

Details

The Swedish Police say luggage thieves operate in many places, often where there are many tourists. In December 2025 they named four distraction tricks: the hug trick, the note trick, the card trick and the smudge trick. For the city see Stockholm; for emergencies see emergency numbers 112 and 1177 in Sweden; for cash rules see how much cash you can take into Sweden.

Tip

Keep your bag closed and in front of your body, keep your wallet and phone in an inside pocket and always cover your PIN. If you are targeted, report it on 114 14, block your bank cards with your bank and your phone with your operator.

What may differ

The figures are for the whole of Sweden, and Brå's survey compares types of municipality, so neither shows how common pickpocketing is in a particular place in Stockholm.

Common misconception

Pickpocketing in Sweden is getting worse every year.

What actually happens

According to Brå, reported pocket thefts fell by 13 percent in 2025 and by 67 percent over the ten years since 2016, with a sharp drop during the pandemic in 2020–2021.

People also ask

  • Is pickpocketing common in Stockholm?
  • How do I avoid pickpockets in Stockholm?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Figures change, so check Brå and the Swedish Police before you travel.

Stockholm

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