Apparently locals lament that much of what is sold here now is new, rather than the secondhand stuff that used to be ubiquitous. There's one other thing that is apparently ubiquitous: pickpockets. "El Rastro offers a fascinating chance to see gangs of young thieves overwhelming and ripping off naive tourists while plainclothes police officers circulate and do their best. Don’t even bring a wallet. The pickpocket action is brutal." -Saint Steves