It can happen anywhere if you aren't vigilant. My daughter had her purse stolen on the way to Spain a few years ago during a nine-hour lay over in Newark. I was amused that she was shocked that someone who had gone through security would steal her purse, because as we know, everyone who flies is honest. Luckily she had her cash, credit cards and passport in a waist pack.

My cousin had a baby thrown at her in Rome and the little gypsies tore her fanny pack off and ran. They had no idea that my cousin was a college track star and chased the little shi$$$, caught her and dragged her to a police officer.

On the other hand, my DH left his man bag on the back of a chair in an Amsterdam restaurant with his wallet and passport. We didn't discover it until we got back to our hotel. He raced back to find that someone had turned it in complete with passport, cash and credit cards. I had a stranger in Paris chase me down when I left my credit card on the counter in a shop.

I was robbed at gun point by a 15-year old in front of my apartment when I was in grad school so I guess you could say I've had more trouble in my own back yard than I've ever had abroad.

Jayne, did your cousin catch the baby? Was it real or a doll?

Liam asks

"I'm really very curious why there seem to be so many scams in Europe and so many thefts whereas such things are (relatively) unheard of here in the US."

In US we have more press on identity theft and internet fraud.
That is not to sya it does not happen elsewhere, just that it gets press.

The pickpocket in USA has a harder time because, with the exception of the large cities like NY & maybe Chicago etc, many of our cities have "sprawal" and there is less commuting on trains and subways.
Everone commutes in their own car on the west coast.

It is kind of interesting why some of this crime is much more common in European large cities than the US, I wonder about that myself. I'd be interested in a criminologist/sociologist's article on that.

However, for whatever reason, it is. I live in a large city with a metro (Wash DC), and of course there is pickpocketing and such on the metro (I believe it has increased this year, actually, from recent reports), but it really is nowhere near the level of some major cities in Europe. Pickpocketing really is much more common in Europe. A lot of this crime definitely is targeted to tourists, I don't know why people wouldn't think so. If you were a petty criminal, it would be much more lucrative and efficient for you to target tourists, tourist locations, metro lines with a lot of tourists, etc., and they do.

I don't think the statements that pickpocketing and these scams are "relatively rare" in the US is so off-the-mark. Compared to Europe, I think they are and I know they are in Wash DC, because I've seen the statistics. Also, Wash DC does have a lot of tourists, tons of them, so saying the US doesn't have as many tourists as Europe doesn't seem the reason.

I was in Prague a couple of months ago. I had heard about pickpockets in the city and kept my wallet in my back pocket which was buttoned up. I was on the underground train and as the train stopped at a station the doors only half opened and everyone trying to get out bunched up. I was pushed into the person in front of me and as this was happening I felt a hand touch my bottom. I grabbed my back pocket and found that my button was undone. Luckily my wallet was still there.
The thieves must have some way of stopping the doors from opening to cause a diversion.

A REAL baby. She caught it, passed it to her friend and took off. The adult was much more interested in the pack and took off after my cousin.

So, who ended up with the baby? Finders keepers?

My son was pickpocketed in Prague and while I was walking along a canal in Amsterdam, 2 males on a scooter drove by and the rider attempted to yank my purse off my shoulder. This type of crime is mild compared to what happens in some cities in the US (I'm an American). Here, if they want your purse they may shoot you. I've never been afraid in Europe, but I use caution and try not to put myself in situations where I can have something stolen. I told my son to never put anything valuable in his back pockets (that's where his small amount of money was) and the only reason my purse wasn't stolen was that when I walk I have my arm wrapped around the strap. From then on, when I walked along a street, my purse was the opposite side of the street. You do what you can to be safe and other than that, there's not much you can do.

Liam:
Just a small example: There are 33 State prisons just in California. All of them are over crowded. Nuf Said!

Not sure if she ever found out Nikki. As you can imagine it caused quiet a commotion. She was 20 at the time and travelling with friends. All she cared about at the time was that she got her stuff back. I'll have to ask her what the final outcome was.

I have a friend who also had a baby thrown at her in Rome by pickpockets. She also caught the baby but had her carryon bag stolen in the process.

This is a really hard situation because I assume that anyone would instinctively catch a baby if it was thrown at them.

What should you do in these circumstances, especially if you have luggage with you?

In San Francisco, it's a regular announcement on the buses: "on crowded buses, keep an eye on your belongings" something like that.

"What should you do in these circumstances, especially if you have luggage with you?"
Try a drop kick.

Bebebe Rose...What is the point? They're not all overflowing with pickpockets and probably if other countries prosecuted more then they'd have 33 prisons all full,too and with more than just pickpockets. Happy Travels!

I'm going to Rome next month and all I can is if any babies are thrown at me I hope Italy has a good national health care plan cause baby will get broke.

Thanks for making me smile Zippo and Jayne.

Seriously though, what would you do if a baby was suddenly thrown at you? I really believe basic instincts would make you catch the baby.

I'm wondering if there is a way to deal with this situation and still be in possession of all your belongings afterwards.

I have never been pickpocketed in Europe.I came close in the Rome subway one very crowded day, but was alerted by an astute Roman woman who grabbed my purse. I've made more than 110 trips to Europe.

I have lived in DC or the VA suburbs for the past 30 years. I was mugged at knife-point at a bus stop on a main avenue there 20 years ago, had my apartment broken into more than 5 times, and my father was mugged at gunpoint on his quiet street in NW DC a dozen years ago. My next-door neighbor when I lived in a fancy apartment in Kalorama was raped. As were 9 other women in the same nbeighborhood in a 6-month period.

I don't ever give a second thought to being pickpocketed in Europe. I take normal precautions and watch my stuff and my body and assume I'll be fine, and thusfar I always have been. fine and safe.

Dang, StCirq, you need to find a better neighborhood! I've lived in various places (including Baltimore, NYC, Denver, Chicago) around the USA for 53 of my 61 years and have never had even one experience like yours! Though a relative of mine did have his 11-year old car stolen in DC a couple of years ago.

I don't know about basic instinct Ozzie--it depends on how my 15 year-old son is behaving. Most days I'd probably let that baby just land on his head.

I've never been outside of the United States, but am going to Scotland next month. I was wondering the same thing, Liam, becasue I also see alot of posts about pick pocketing and scams in big cities around the UK and Europe. I was kind of worried as well. As far as being pick pocketed, I'm a woman, so I plan on storing money in a little pocket in my bra. I don't know what the equivalent would be for men...maybe a money belt?

I'm sure that being street smart (aware of surrounding, not being drunk, groups of people, etc) goes a long way. All in all, I don't really believe that Europe has any worse problem with these crimes than we do.