Residents across the Costa del Sol are sounding the alarm after a string of alleged thefts, pickpocketing attempts and distraction scams this week.

The incidents, shared by victims and witnesses, span several towns including Fuengirola, La Cala de Mijas, Calahonda, Estepona, Casares and Cancelada.

One of the most concerning reports came from Fuengirola, where an elderly man was allegedly robbed of a gold chain in broad daylight.

According to a relative, the victim was walking in Callejon Trabuco at around 3.30pm when a man and woman travelling in a black Volkswagen Golf stopped to ask for directions.

The pair then allegedly snatched the chain from his neck before fleeing the scene.

The relative claimed it was not the first time elderly people had been targeted in the area.

Meanwhile, a cluster of reports emerged from La Cala de Mijas and neighbouring Calahonda.

In one incident, grandparents walking beneath La Cala’s main bridge were allegedly robbed by a couple who later attempted to divert suspicion by pretending somebody else had committed the theft.

According to the victim’s grandson, the suspects pointed towards a nearby rubbish bin and claimed the thieves had thrown the stolen purse inside before walking away.

The same social media discussion attracted multiple responses from other residents who said they had experienced similar incidents.

One commenter claimed a friend had also been robbed at the local market, while another resident said their wallet had been stolen in the Mercadona area of Calahonda.

A separate post warned that a woman had her wallet taken inside Lidl before it was later discarded.

Another resident described how they were allegedly targeted inside Mercadona by a pair working together, with one person distracting them while an accomplice stole their belongings.

Further west, a Dutch tourist reportedly had her handbag stolen at Playa Chica in Casares.

According to a friend, the bag contained a mobile phone, driving licence, bank card and car keys.

In Estepona, a woman reported a suspected pickpocketing attempt in the town centre.

She said she felt movement on her backpack while walking near the junction of Avenida España and Juan Carlos I at around midday.

When she turned around, she allegedly found a woman trying to access her purse while a male companion shielded her hand from view.

The victim said the woman immediately pretended she was dizzy and had accidentally bumped into her.

Elsewhere, an appeal circulated online after an Audi Q8 was reportedly stolen outside Lidl in Cancelada.

While police have not confirmed whether any of the incidents are linked, several of the reports describe remarkably similar tactics.

These include suspects asking for directions, pretending to need assistance, feigning confusion after being challenged or using accomplices to distract victims while valuables are taken.

Many of the alleged incidents also occurred in busy public areas such as supermarkets, markets, beaches and tourist hotspots.

The reports come as the Costa del Sol enters one of its busiest periods of the year, with millions of visitors expected across the region over the coming months.

Residents are urging people to keep bags zipped and close to their bodies, avoid carrying large amounts of cash and remain alert to distraction techniques commonly used by professional thieves.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.