another pickpocket question
 

Always nice to read about pick-pockets and such before heading off on a trip . . .

I normally keep my mobile phone clipped to my waist. On travel, I might also have a point-and-shoot camera. From what it sounds like, this might not be a good idea in some of the more vunerable areas (airport, train station, key tourist venues). Putting them in a bag doesn't sound that much safer and they don't really fit in the front of pants/trousers.

Off to Paris soon, but I guess this can apply to any big city.

Recommendations?

ricksteves.com

good tips

always put anything of value in my

trusty rick steves money belt worn

to the front under clothing.

keep my point and shoot in my pocket

leave my cell at home or if needed for business

in my other front pocket.

Room safes are not safe everyone has a general combo.

so only use hotel safes in front office.

insuremytrip.com always cheap wise Patriot worked

well for me when there in April.

They have cleaned things up a lot especially in Italy

was pleasantly surprised...

Stolen US passports still worth 3k or so so be careful.

Happy Travels,

Agree that clipping your phone to your waist is a bad idea.

A man bag works fine if (1) it doesn't hang off your back where you can't keep track of it and (2) it is snug enough to hold only what you need -- mine holds point and shoot camera, phone, sunglasses, small notebook and pen, and mapbook and bus guide.

Mine actually has a cross strap, and the zippers and other closures face my body when I hang it that way. A good pickpocket can get in it -- a good pickpocket can get into anything, including a waist belt -- but it is handy and is secure against fumbling attempts.

You may feel weird with a man bag, but you see them all over Paris and Rome.

Assume anything you clip to your belt - and spend time in crowded public areas - will be taken. You need a small day pack (do NOT wear on your back - but where you can see it at all times). Or wear a jcket and keep these in inside breast pocket - if they fit.

but mostly - just avoid the pickpockets.

Valuables should never be visible.

The Marriott Courtyard in Graz doesn't have a general combo code for their in-room safes. After days of working fine, my safe wouldn't open with my code so the manager came up... had to use all kind of tools to get the thing open. Took almost an hour!

Cellphones on belts are a very bad idea. My son-in-law born and raised in Rome had his on his belt when back in Rome. He was walking in a very nontouristy area with some Italian friends. Some guy came by on his scooter and within a second my son-in-law's callphone was gone. I will say that the cellphone was on the left side of his belt as was the street so perhaps if the phone hadn't been on the street side it wouldn't have been snatched.