The Trileros of Las Ramblas: Part 2
When we last left this story I was hunting the Trileros along the streets of Las Ramblas in Barcelona. For many years, these gangs of con artists have worked this busy tourist strip, hustling tourists with the shell game.
Three matchboxes. One ball. No chance.
I was worried because the Trileros had spotted me trying to film them and had vanished down the many side streets and alleys that line Las Ramblas. I had hoped to play the game a little, lose some money and maybe get some hidden camera shots of them in action.
For the next hour, I combed the street, getting more djected the further I walked without seeing them. I talk to a couple of police officers who confirmed that they are cracking down on the Trileros and other swindlers. They sent me a nearby information stand where I found a flyer warning of 3000 euro fines for even playing the game, let alone running it.
I head back to Las Ramblas where the Trileros are back in force.
The boss who I saw handing out money earlier is the same but the rest of con artists are all new faces. It seems that the man in charge sets of franchises. He’s running several crews at once all up and down the strip. He hands at the cash, picks the spots, takes no risks and pockets a fortune.
I keep my video camera away and take out my semi-hidden camera. Really, it’s just a regular camera in a bag but ’semi-hidden camera’ has much more of a James Bond ring to it.
To get them on side, I decide to lose my money up front and then photograph them after.
Pickpockets often work the pockets and bags of crowds so I’ve lock all my valuables in my backpack and have only my camera and 20 euro in my pocket.
I push my way to the front of the crowd, wait and watch….
an accomplice goes to place a winning bet.Within seconds, an hand grabs hold of my elbow. One of the many accomplices has spotted me and is trying to rope me into the game. He’s an older man and speaks in broken English.
“Where is it? Come, you help me!”
He pulls me up close, his vice like grip digging into my arm. My choices are either play the game or, pull rudely away from this kindly old man. I am certain that people play the game just out of politeness.
The Trilero thrusts 50 euro in my hand saying, “play with my money.”
I watch the matchboxes fly around on the ground desperately trying to keep track of where the ball should be while also looking for the moment where he swaps the ball invisible from one matchbox to another.
At the last second, he bumps on the matchboxes with the heel of his hand accidentally flashing the ball’s position. My friend squeezes my hand and hisses, “look! look!”. He taps his foot on the box that, apparently, contains the ball.
So I reach out my foot and place it squarely on the winning box.
The Trilero reaches out and takes the 50 euro he just handed to me. The old man hands over 50 euro of his own. They both turn me expectantly. The hustler holds out his hand.
“50 euro”
“Sorry, only 20.”
“50.”
“Nope. 20.”
“Ok!”
He takes my 20 and pulls me down to the ground with him.
“Watch”
I slowly take my foot off the box.
“Watch”
He grabs hold of the box in a awkward grip. Years of watch bad magic shows tells me he’s doing the dirty move.
“Watch”
He slowly slides it towards me and flips it over. The box is empty. I’ve lost my 20 euro.
The sliding move used to steal the ball was quite ungainly and unnatural. A magician would illicit heckles and protests if he tried a similar move in a magic show.
But here on the street, no one says a word. It’s because the tourists are foreigners in strange land, playing a game they don’t really understand, surrounded by people they don’t know or trust.
Whether it’s fear, politeness or confusion, no one accuses them of cheating the whole time I’m standing there. Maybe the crowd just isn’t looking for it.
I step back into the crowd and take a few more photos and little film footage before my camera is spotted. The game is finished once again and the crew vanish into the busy street but not before a few threats and a little abuse is thrown my way.
I spot eight different hustlers helping out in just this one game:
1) The Trilero playing the game
2) The boss handing out money
3) The old man who helped me bet
4) Two look outs
5) Three other players
This isn’t some little street hustle….this is an industry.