I agree Tony, this country has its problems the same as any other country including the UK.
It appears to me that there are people on here who do nothing but complain, its either too hot or too cold, too dry or too wet, too expensive, (its no dearer than the UK,) and the locals have the gall to want to speak their own language and continue with their own customs.
I personnally have Catalan and Spanish friends whom I would trust  explicitly.
It would seem that some guests to this country have not done their homework before moving out here whilst wearing their rose-tinted glasses, and understandably have had their fingers burned.
And yes there has been some burglaries done by some unsavoury types, ( the house next door to my UK house was burgled 4 times in ONE year!!!!!) and I agree that its very horrible and unnerving to have your hard earned stuff nicked.
I personnally love this country, its people, its culture, its enjoyment of life, its weather and even the pesky flies.
M'encanta catalunya