i bet the proliferation of skinny jeans is to blame. the person wearing the jeans can barely get their own hand in their pocket, how's a pickpocket supposed to do it undetected?
Sorry, folks, but my jeans pockets are like monkey traps. If you grab anything in there you won't be able to get your hand out. They pickpockets figured that out quickly and ran off without any loot. Tight jeans saved my vacation.
I was eating in a cafe with a girl once in Gracia, and her bag was stolen off the chair next to her (dumb of her to put it there, dumb of me for not warning her or paying more attention).
Another time I was out at night with friends, and the girl walking in front of me on the sidewalk had her shoulderbag straight ripped off her arm by a speeding moto, knocking her to the ground.
The key I think is awareness of your surroundings, and preventive measures like checking your belongings regularly (I have a habit of tapping my pockets when passing people etc). And don't go into any place where you feel uncomfortable.
If a hot girl touches your arm and look at you in the eyes with a vivid smile, you won't feel the hand searching for your pocket. I'm pretty sure someone could put a leg in your back pocket and you wouldn't still feel a thing!
The real protection is to have your money inside your belt or similar location and just have decoys in your pockets.