Sinister problem Brit Ben Ross faced on 'holiday paradise' island

Fears are growing for a young Brit who vanished shortly after his phone, passport, keys and wallet were stolen in Majorca.

Benjamin Ross, 26, from Wigan, was staying with a pal on the Spanish island after finding himself a job there, but his mother Felix has not heard from him since recieving an "odd email" on July 10.

Felix revealed that Ben had been left penniless after being robbed while taking a dip in the sea. She had been attempting to arrange a money transfer to help him out. However, during their last conversation before his disappearance, she got the feeling that he was mentally distressed.

Theft is a significant issue for many tourists visiting Majorca, particularly Palma. The Palma airport website warns that "foreigners" and especially "people who look and act like oblivious tourists," are prime targets for pickpockets, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The airport's website specifically warns about certain types of people, such as flower-sellers, who may use their activities to distract victims' attention. "Corrupt waiters at a restaurant may also read the card into their own recorder for later," adds the Palma de Mallorca Airport site.

The Mallorca Under The Sun travel podcast recently featured a British tourist named Lisa, who told how she had become the victim of theft, much like Ben, during her beach holiday. She described how she momentarily left her bag containing towels and other odds and ends to grab a drink from a nearby beach bar, only to return and find her belongings stolen.

She said: "By the time I'd got there my bag had gone, so somebody was clearly watching me and had taken my bag. Everything gone but luckily I never leave any valuables on the on the beach or in in my bag."

Tripadvisor features many similar tales of woe, with several visitors reporting pickpocketing incidents in the heart of Palma. One distressed traveller shared their experience: "On the bus from the airport to Palma city centre I had my wallet stolen from a fastened pocket. All cards and cash gone, left stranded in Palma with a three and an eight year old and not a penny to get to our holiday resort."

This unfortunate Tripadvisor user continued, detailing the long trek to the police station in Palma and then a lengthy wait to report the crime – alongside a crowd of fellow victims.

In light of these events, the Majorca Daily Bulletin has issued advice to tourists, suggesting they keep their wallets, phones, and other valuables in inner pockets or money belts, and consider investing in anti-theft bags that can defeat credit-card skimming devices.

The website explained: "According to police sources, most of these individuals are Romanian and highly skilled at operating in crowded areas. Their peak operating hours range from eleven in the morning to five in the afternoon. They exhibit a high level of professionalism; once they seize wallets, they swiftly extract money and discard the items, making it challenging to trace ownership of the bills."

If tourists are travelling in a group, it's always a good idea for them to divide the cash or cards among two or more adults. This ensures that if a case of theft happens, there's still some money left over to reach either a police station or the holiday accommodation.

The Foreign Office is offering assistance to Ben's family and maintains contact with local authorities. Felix stated: "Like any mother, no matter what age your children are, they are still your children. I just need to know my son is safe and well."

"The last few days have been torture. Please, if anyone has seen Ben, even if it's just for a second, let the authorities know. We need to find him."