Protect Against Pickpocketers?
 

Since pickpocketing appears to be a problem, what do you all suggest to use to carry around personal belongings? We usually use a backpack, but I read they are easily slashed and the contents taken.
Thanks!

Do you means travel in China?

We did not have any security problems in Hong Kong or Shanghai in Mar 2003. Always keep passport & valuables in hotel safe. Carfry photocopy. Don't take anything irreplaceable with you. Keep credit cards, cash etc. in moneybelt or neck pouch if you're worried. Use common sense. Keep a small stash of cash in your pocket to buy drinks, food etc.

Carfry photocopy? Sorry, should be carry photocopy. Good luck.

do not carry anything around with you but maybe a credit card and some cash, but not much...just what you need for that trip....beware especially in tourist areas...that is where they prey and in crowded markets, etc....men keep their wallets, with not much in them, in their front pockets where you can keep a hand on it... my wife never takes a purse....i sometimes carry a small plastice bag which you cannot see through....i keep my camera in there...

my wife occasional uses a fanny pack which she keeps in the front...

backpacks are an accident waiting to happen...

thiefs are very cleaver....we have been in many places in asia and have seen practically no thefts...in a croweded subway i stand against a wall...going down a crowded escalator i keep my hand on my wallet....use common sense and always be aware of what is going on....

don't be afraid to challenge anyone who is annoying you by touching, etc...move away from them....have a signal between you and your travel companions...don't be afraid to shout...

LostinChina, I agree that sensible precautions should be taken, and the advice you've had here is good, but I wouldn't obsess about security. We spent 3.5 weeks wandering around a number of cities in China without incident. We had a small backpack thingey, but didn't keep anything of value in it. I just kept camera, wallet, cash etc in my zipped cargo pants pockets. I've been told that it's advisable to be more alert in bus and train stations, but even there (five bus stations in all) we had no trouble. As one of my government's propaganda campaigns sloganised, "Be alert, but not alarmed".

Thanks for the advice. Are credit cards that useful in China? I heard Discover is worthless there. How about Visa and MC? If you don't carry a purse or backpack, where do you put the toilet paper and antibacterial wipes, etc? Do you just take the toilet paper from the hotel? Someone who went years ago said even the hotels were skimpy on how much toilet paper they gave you.

I am currently an expat from the States liivng in Shanghai. A word on pickpockets here. They are very very good. <BG> I always watched my purse and my husband his wallet in crowded areas. Last week, while walking close to the Hilton Hotel on a deserted quiet street with rain in the air, my husband yelled and turned around quickly, sure enough a small boy had come up behind us very quietly trying to pick my husband's back pocket. The small boy was working with a grown man who yelled at my husband to leave the young boy alone. I repeat, the street was completely deserted at four pm and we were a target even at this time. The boy was unable to get the wallet because of the back pocket was buttoned and my husband keeps a comb and rubber band around the wallet so it can't slip out easliy. Myszka

The rubber band is probably your best bet.... I have never heard of the comb but that makes sense!

Visa and MC can be used for hotels, more upmarket restaurants and so forth. For most other purposes, make sure you have a debit card that will operate in Chinese ATMs and withdraw cash as you need it. We used Bank of China ATMs, had no problem.

Hi, I have never been bothered by pickpockets even when others nearby have been targeted because I try to look poor! This works particularly well in Europe though I guess if you're a westerner in an Asian country you will stand outa bit but I still find dressing down (though still being clean and tidy) is a good protection. Jewellery , watches and cameras are best hidden. Be careful in the country side in China as vendors have been known to quickly snatch a large value bank note and then offer back a bank note of much less value when questioned.This happenned to my elderly mother who looked a bit confused so was an easy target. Try to offer the exact amount if possible. However I have often been surprised at the honesty of persons met when travelling as well. When in Vietnam recently I was told quite a few horror stories by local people about rip offs and pick pockets but was impressed when the young man in an Internet Cafe would not take any money from me as I didn't have any small change for his extremely cheap rate. I went back later and paid him plus a bit extra. Fellow travellers also reported that , while caution is always advised anywhere you are, there are still honest people around. So still be very careful but not paranoid. Kerry.

I was recently looking at a US Consulate webpage that recommended carrying your actual passport with you all the time. That's what I do, and I carry one credit card and my cash also in a purse or fanny pack whose straps have a steel cable inside them. That way a pickpocket can't slit it or grab it away. I think I got them via catelogue at Travelsmith or Magellan's.

I know many people put valuables in the room safe but there are always disclaimers on them that management isn't responsible for any theft, so I worry that they aren't totally safe.


Most hotels have very secure lock boxes near the desk but they're a hassle to access and I am always anxious that I'll forget my things in the whirlwind of packing up and checking out. And I saw someone who had lost the key to the desk's box and they had to pay $100 to have the box drilled, adding a substantial delay to their depareture.

I leave photocopies of my passport and visa plus another credit card or two stashed in various suitcases or carry on bags so that it will be easier to deal with a lost passport. I also take an extra couple of photos, too. I also photocopy all my credit cards' front and backs so I will have the account plus 1-800 or other number handy to report them missing asap.

Additionally, I'm sure pickpockets study their potential "marks" in planning their attempt, and choose the one who doesn't seem to be paying attention to his or her pack, purse, pockets, etc. I am always vigilant, especially in crowds, and (knock on wood) haven't been attacked yet.