Pickpocket Prevention Tips Learned From My Own Stupidity!

I am not by any means an “expert” on pickpocket prevention, (obviously not at all in the past), but along the way, I have learned a few tips from my very own stupidity! With the event of upcoming summer travel, I thought I might as well put in my own two cents worth, learned the hard way.

For those of you who are planning to take advantage of the dollar being stronger than it was last year against the Euro, and planning a European vacation; here are some tips. Learn from my stupidity!!!

Paris is not the only major European city with a pickpocket problem! They are everywhere tourists may gather, but more so as seen in the map, which does not relate the latest listing as written below.

Barcelona takes the distinction of being  the world’s pickpocket capital!  In Europe, Prague follows, then Rome, Madrid, Paris, Florence, Amsterdam, and Athens in the latest stats.

Before you leave, make sure you have copies of all your travel documents, including passport, credit cards and drivers license, social security card, health card, prescriptions, and any thing else you travel with.

Unless you are planning on renting a car, I would leave a drivers license home, along with most everything else except not more than two credit cards, tickets and passport.

Copy telephone numbers of banks and lost /stolen credit card, and cell notification numbers.   Put the copies in your suitcase and leave them there, except for emergency credit card notification numbers in a different pocket from your cards.

In so far as credit cards, take just one  Visa or MasterCard, and your companion another, as they are by far the most popular ones accepted. Leave American Express behind as many places here do not accept them, except very high end hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Once at your destination, leave your passport and other credit cards in your hotel room  or desk locked safe.  Never be stupid enough, like I was to keep them all in one purse. Live and learn! One credit card for an outing is enough!

Ladies, always travel with a thick strap shoulder bag, and do not wear it just dangling over one shoulder, but around your neck and one shoulder, where the purse rests in front of you, preferably with the opening against your body.

A friend here, while waiting for the metro to pull in, had her strap cut with the guy running off with it in seconds.  Besides thick straps, use purses with zips and flaps, or anything that makes your purse more difficult to reach in to steal, preferable keeping your free hand resting on top.

Men should never carry  cash or anything of worth in their back or side pocket, but instead in a hidden neck or stomach pouch.  European men like to wear small satchel like bags around their shoulders.

I once saw in action a male pickpocket slipping his hand in a man’s coat pocket on busy Mouffetard street here. I scolded him and reported him to the merchants who called the police.

Back packs can be easy to steal from.    While riding in a bus in Marseille, my empty  back pack, that I only used for picnic items was zipped open by a pickpocket, who found nothing, except a few bread crumbs!

If you have to carry valuables in a back pack, better to carry it in front or  more on your side, if possible, with all zips turned against your body.  Put a wide rubber band around a wallet or cards to increase friction if pulled out and keep it inside a zipped inside purse pocket.

Always go inside a bank to withdraw cash as needed from a cash distributor. You are always much more protected that way.  If you have to get cash from an outdoor one, then have a companion be on guard  for you, blocking the sight of your hands.

Never type out your code in an open manner, without trying your best to type it out under your cupped hand to conceal it.  At a wine salon, I made a very stupid gesture, because the vintner was holding up the card machine up off the table when I typed in the code.

My card and code was pickpocketed, with them withdrawing 500 euros in 3 minutes. I did not know of course that my card was missing, till I wanted to buy some more wine from another vintner.  Since I taste only micro sips, rather than drink, I was totally sober, and anyhow it was the first stand I stopped to buy!

The other time my credit card was stolen and money withdrawn was when I was buying a RER ticket from a machine in the metro station to go to Charles De Gaulle airport, to fly out to Budapest.   It was a very cold January morning with snow covering the ground and I had on an expensive looking coat, so maybe I looked like a “good” target.

I was in a hurry as usual, strolling in with my luggage,  and I remember looking around before I typed in my code, and did not remark that anyone “suspect” was nearby.  Obviously, someone was overseeing my hand!

I do remember being bumped into in the elevator going down to the tracks and then seeing at the next stop a Roma lady walk in the train then out as if she was scouting.  I was not aware of having my card stolen, till I tried to buy water before boarding.

In looking at bank records, my card was used to withdrawn over 500 euros at that particular stop, so perhaps they were working in tandem. Thieves will test it out for a smaller amount and then go for the full amount that can be pulled out at a time.

When walking along streets, especially in Italy or Marseille, try to avoid walking near street side, stay close to building side. Beware of  men on scooters riding close to the sidewalk, as this is a very popular way to snatch purses!

If you are traveling in a car in a large city, keep your windows closed and doors locked in heavy traffic, as I had my purse, with everything in it snatched from within my car by two thieves on a scooter, who reached to the floor and pulled it out of the window!

I was left totally penniless with my daughter and dachshund in Marseille, without passport, cards, you name it!  At the police station, a victims support team, like heaven sent angels, came for emotional support, bought us food and a train ticket back to Paris, except they inadvertently forgot to buy  two tickets, necessitating being in need of another angel!

Fortunately for us, our second angel was an 18 year old student from the Ukraine, who took pity on us, risking taking the word of complete strangers to buy us the second ticket.   We keep in touch with Zhanna, referring to her as “our Marseille” angel!!

Now, not only do I keep windows up and doors locked if in heavy city traffic, but loop purse straps on seat belts.  Yes, I am now constantly looking out for scooters, which in Italy especially, are always weaving in and out of traffic.

Also, when stopping in gas stations, if alone, better to lock purse in car while pumping gas.  Always lock car before you leave it to go inside to pay.

When using public transport in cities, do not be like I used to be,  often with thoughts in the clouds!  Pay attention to your surroundings!  Vigilance is very important; constantly be on the lookout and  surveying your location.

Thieves love pickpocketing folks waiting  or getting on a bus, tram, or subway.  Also in train stations, watch your purse at all times, as I had mine snatched in the Milan station years ago, while buying a ticket, but chased her and snatched it back!

Sometimes you might be able to recognise them, as I have here in Paris and Istanbul! Gangs of young teens or even kids, often arise my suspicions now who steal on the metro.

I prefer to wait for a less crowded subway car to come along, rather than be crammed in like sardines, not only as pickpocket protection, but for sanitary reasons as well, as I can’t stand to have someone breathing down my face or hair in my face.

Sitting on a bench in Istanbul last year, waiting for a tram; I had pulled out my ipad to check directions, and within minutes saw kids around ten years old running towards me.  I quickly put ipad back in my sack as they surrounded us.

Fortunately, a policeman,  that is present in stations there shooed them away! Same happened with trying to figure out how to buy tram tickets from a machine. Kids came out of nowhere, to be chased away by another policeman, who are constantly on the look there.

Kids and young teens work in groups and at least here in France, even if caught, they  are generally let go because they are minors. They are taught and directed by a gang master who may be nearby, to whom they turn over all monies and objects collected.

There are reports that some of them are beaten unless they reach daily quotas, so certainly there is a lot of psychological pressure on these kids to steal.

Do not stop to sign any petitions offered on the streets, as these are generally bogus and a play to derobe you while you are signing.  Also don’t stop to pick up rings or objects off the ground as they too are ploys to distract you.

In restaurants, unless very upscale, (where roamers would not be allowed to enter)do not hang your purse strap off the back of your chair, except maybe if you are sitting against a wall, where it would be very difficult to have any access to it.  If I am seated in an aisle chair, I will always keep my bag looped through my arm in front of me on  my lap, or use a leg if put between your feet.

Never place your cell phone on the table, as it can be easily stolen, by thieves approaching with papers, or objects that they place on top of it to hide it being stolen in front of you.  Ditto for any tablets or ipads.

In so far as dress, when walking around, try to blend in with the locals as much as possible, and do not flaunt any notion of wealth.   Leave expensive jewelry and watches at home. In Paris there have been necklace snatching as well.

I am sorry to have perhaps given you a grain or two of paranoia.  At the same time, if a little paranoia will make you more vigilant;  that is better than risking being traumatized and possibly ruining a wonderfully planned expensive vacation!

Despite the best precautions and being vigilant, a true professional pickpocket can make off with your belongings, such as this man.  Your best precaution is to make yourself a difficult enough target, in hopes that they will choose an easier mark.

Appolo Robbins is a professional theatrical pickpocket/magician who has several you tube videos, like this one that is a reportage of his scary skills.  Thank you Appolo for the tip of keeping cards in a cup!