Secrets of the Shoplifters

Over 13 million Britons will head to Spain for their holidays this year. What many don't realise is that they're flying into the arms of some of the most determined pickpockets the world has ever known. These pickpocket gangs often hail from Eastern Europe and, with working restrictions easing for certain Eastern Europeans in January, the concern is that some of these gangs may be heading for England in future. From those who practise 'the reptile' - stealing bags from distracted couples on the beach - to the carjackers of the coastal highways, the criminal gangs of Spain have developed ever more sophisticated techniques for targeting unwary British tourists. With access to the police agencies of Barcelona and Benidorm and a cast of frustrated local expats, this programme gets a close-up view of the action as the Brits arrive for their holidays.