I don't consider it "phobic" nor even a nuisance to use a money belt. As others have said, it's a LOT more inconvenient to be pickpocketed in a foreign country than at home. I know this from experience.

I do think large European cities have much more of a pickpocking problem than comparable US cities. I have lived in Brooklyn NY for 3 years, taking the subway to work (even 8 months pregnant, a prime target) and was never hassled or bothered. I lived in Manhattan and regularly took subways/buses, no problem at all nor have I ever witnessed any on all of my years of subway travel. However, contrasting this with rides on the Barcelona metro, Paris metro, Prague trains (Prague, beautiful city, big pickpocket problem)we have had several pickpocking attempts made on us. I guess me and my kids looked like targets and they just zoned in on us - but we always wear money belts and they got nothing. But, I have never witnessed this type of targeting of tourists in NYC (nor did I ever witness a violent crime on the NYC subway). I do think that the vigilance of the police department has a major deterrence of this type of crime. I have read several reports that in Spain and Paris they just can't control this type of petty theft.

" don't think it's so much that Europe is different as it is that I'm different when I'm in Europe. In my own city, I'm mostly at home, at work, in my car or on a transit system I'm familiar with so I don't have to concentrate on where I'm going."

Great comment, hdm.

Sometimes I think I'm more likely to be in an unaware stupor due to habit, while at home, than I am in a new city where I'm watching signs and looking for my destination.

MOST people do travel to many cities, including Rome, without becoming crime victims. I haven't myself, and I too live in NYC. I haven't been robbed at home either. I do walk all the time, and I use public transportation, at home and when I travel. I don't use security devices or hidden wallets, just try to be aware. I'm not saying it will never happen to me, but so far the odds have been with me and not agin' me.

That said, people should do whatever makes them more comfortable in terms of taking precautions, and then hope for the best.

I agree that many people are obsessed with theft overseas. Anywhere that tourist or others are in mass, there will be the potential for theft. Take precautions everywhere.

I had a customer that was very worried about her first trip to Europe. I told her not to worry and have a good time. I explained to her about precautions for the entire trip. Everything went fine until the return trip. At JFK Airport, she was robbed. She said that since she was back in the States, the felt that she did not have to observe my suggestions.

On the same note, many can plan easily for a trip across the USA, but get bogged down trying to plan a trip overseas. The only difference is traveling further and some language problems.

>...many can plan easily for a trip across the USA, but get bogged down trying to plan a trip overseas. The only difference is traveling further and some language problems. <

Agreed. The US is huge, and in some places it's almost impossible to understand the locals.

Excessive worry about pickpockets may be a GOOD thing. The chances of being relieved of your money, credit cards, etc. in any tourist area are a lot greater than in your hometown. People should do everything they can to avoid being robbed, ESPECIALLY if they're in a foreign country. Imagine the inconvenience (not a strong enough word) of having to deal with the aftermath, hardly what one wants to do while on vacation. In some cases, it could ruin a person's entire trip.

Call it a "phobia" if you want, but I think being AWARE of what could happen, and taking steps to prevent it, should be one of every traveler's prime considerations. To do less, is just plain DUMB.

I was helping friends, a young couple, plan a trip to Paris and Italy and they are in Rome right about now. Just before they left Seashell and I had dinner with them and gave them last minute tips and suggestions.

I was going on and on about pickpockets and wearing money pouches, etc. The young man, who is from Guatamala originally, said, when we go back to visit our countries (she is from El Salvador) we have to dress like homeless people. If they see we are coming from the USA they will pick us clean, so we know all about being aware of pickpockets. We are going to visit Europe {for the first time} and will know how to watch out for thieves, so I have a under-the-shirt money pocket so I won't have to think about it.

So, hopefully, they both have street smarts and will have a wonderful time. I will ask him to write a trip report from his POV, I think it would be different from our usual reports. BTW, they weren't planning on dressing down in Europe.

The fact is that, wherever tourists congregate (especially tourists from other countries who are not familiar with local customs and languages), there are people who will try to make a living taking advantage of them.

Pickpocketing is one form of taking advantage, and in certain parts of the world among certain groups of people pickpocketing has been raised to the level of an art form, if not quite a science.

Oops, I meant to add that even in areas with notable pickpocket activity, the vast majority of visitors will not have a problem. It's just more likely in these areas; not inevitable.

Anyone who spends 6 hours at the American Consulate spending $165 in fees to replace their passport knows the value of a money belt.

I've never been afraid of being robbed, but I've been lucky so far, and have tried to be aware of my surroundings when in heavily touristed spots.

When I was in Paris in September, I sat at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower on one of the benches, filling out postcards. I had the presence of mind to loop my purse through my arm, and not just leave it sitting next to me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something, and as I turned, I saw a kid walking towards me, with a hand outstretched heading right towards my purse (he was less than 3 feet away from me).

I said loudly "WHAT are you doing?" and he suddenly produced and fumbled with a disposable camera and said "taking pictures". But then he ran away.

I got up and followed him, just to see if he was really that scared, and given the police presence, I thought I'd tip them off -- but the kid was long gone.

It gave me a minute to realize how glad I was that nothing in that purse couldn't be replaced easily except for the loss of pictures in my digital camera.

I'm not phobic about being robbed here in Denver any more than I am in Paris or Timbuktu, but I do know that the cost of replacing something valuable like a passport (both in time and money), is well worth a simple moneybelt to make me breathe easier.

Jules

Are any of you familiar with the PacSafe StashSafe type of fanny pack? I have seen them at REI - here is the website:
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...ry_rn=40003644

I thought this would be good in conjunction with a moneybelt. Any comments?

I just returned from two weeks in Spain and Portugal.

At our hotel in Barcelona, the HOTEL itself provided a very seriously-worded handout on pickpockets and petty crime and how to avoid it.

I went to Spain well aware of the reputation that it has for pickpockets. Although I personally had no problems, I found it interesting that the hotel apparently recognizes the problem as severe enough to make a point of educating its guests about the dangers. To me, a phobia is an unfounded fear -- and the hotel's stance doesn't make it sound unfounded.

I know for a fact that pickpockets exist in Europe and that they often rob tourists because they can catch them off guard.

I don't worry about them but I am on guard. As a routine matter, I don't carry real valuables in my hip pocket. The possessions I worry about the most are my passport, my driver's license, and my plastic money cards.

Those stay under my clothes where the thief would have to go to considerable effort to get them.

I do carry a little money in my pockets, but that is to minimize the greater risk. I don't want to be in a position to be digging for my money because that tips off the pickpockets.

I usually wear a pair of slacks with a zippered front pocket. That is not fool proof of course but I think it is harder to unzip a pocket than it is to take a billfold out of a back pocket with only a button.

Take the safeguards, be aware that as a tourist you are seen, but don't go into excessive worry.

I dunno about excessive worry about pickpockets, but this might be a case of excessive worry over excessive worry. Excessive worry, presumably, being more than one's own level of worry.

When people ask about costs, we assume they are trying to plan a budget. When they ask about sightseeing, we assume they are trying to plan their time. And when they ask about pickpockets, we can assume they are trying to plan their personal security. A lot of people compulsively plan their trips before they go - once abroad, the confidence this gives them allows them to relax and pick only those plans they deem will truly serve them.

As for someone who confesses to being truly afraid, the use of statistics isn't very effective as an 'antidote' since for one, it's irrelevant - it is scant comfort knowing one was the only one to get robbed. It's also not how the worry gets started in the first place: statistics are logical, worry is emotional. Emotions have their uses, but to manage them usually requires an emotional response....which is, to accept the worry as a fact (which it usually is.) Then one can proceed further... "If you get robbed, you will handle it this way...you will contact the police, then the airport...." is more useful than "Stop worrying about whether you'll get robbed!"

I think Bob Brown gave some very useful and practical advice to use. I had wondered how I would handle my stuff when I get to Italy, and he said it in a way that is practical and realistic.