How to prepare for pickpockets?
Apr 18th, 2006, 12:01 PM
#62
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Maire - it's more about carrying yourself like someone who will beat the crap out of someone in the most painful and humiliating way possible just for looking at you wrong than just confident (though that's good too)...
Apr 18th, 2006, 12:06 PM
#63
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njnancy, we (I grew up in Miami) are more familiar with muggings and such. Pickpockets are a different breed, much more subtle and slick, and tend to get what they want done without us even knowing it. It takes a different mindset to guard against them.
Pickpockets in Europe, from what I've read, are a very talented subset of humans, some of them in the family business for generations, taught as children.
Pickpockets in Europe, from what I've read, are a very talented subset of humans, some of them in the family business for generations, taught as children.
Apr 18th, 2006, 12:07 PM
#64
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subcon, I don't think sex had anything to do with it! It was mostly from the calf down (although it started at the knee). Remember it was just for a few moments and I'm sure just a distraction...but quite strange.
njnancy, yes it is worse but just keep aware of what is going on around you. Tourists are easy marks because of unfamiliar surroundings and wanting to look at everything at once. The first time I went to Paris we went up to Montmarte rather late at nite and I remember the scream of a woman on a side street who had just had her purse nabbed.
njnancy, yes it is worse but just keep aware of what is going on around you. Tourists are easy marks because of unfamiliar surroundings and wanting to look at everything at once. The first time I went to Paris we went up to Montmarte rather late at nite and I remember the scream of a woman on a side street who had just had her purse nabbed.
Apr 18th, 2006, 12:08 PM
#65
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njnancy, I've had similar experiences as yours here at home, but I think it really is that much worse there than here - think the thieves are just much craftier, motivated, and sophisticated than our American thieves! I've probably just been lucky here as I will admit to being far too careless at home, but I've been much more cautious abroad about my belongings and have had my wallet lifted twice - once in London, once in Rome. Ironically, I think I had a much better time after it happened in Rome, as I no longer had the vague worry in the back of my mind that it might happen. On the bright side, I didn't have to pick up the dinner tab for the rest of the week!
Apr 18th, 2006, 12:09 PM
#66
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Chepar - now if you could send me a pic of how you put your key chain contraption together, I would be all over that! Also, I see everyone mentioning carrying around a "copy" of their passport. Does anyone ask to see it when out sightseeing? If so, is a copy always sufficient?
Apr 18th, 2006, 12:56 PM
#67
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I only email myself a copy of my passport, so it can be accessed and printed out at any time.
I can't recall ever needing to show my passport for anything other than trains/planes/hostels/hotels. Some hostels have required that I leave my passport with them for my whole stay, and that has never ended up being a problem. I do always have my student identity card on me for the worst case scenario that I get hit by a car or something worse.
I can't recall ever needing to show my passport for anything other than trains/planes/hostels/hotels. Some hostels have required that I leave my passport with them for my whole stay, and that has never ended up being a problem. I do always have my student identity card on me for the worst case scenario that I get hit by a car or something worse.
Apr 18th, 2006, 12:57 PM
#68
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To the people who want to know why take so many precautions in Europe when you take none at home: in Europe you may be jetlagged. You will certainly be in unfamilar surroundings where a foreign language is spoken. You spend a lot of your time trying to figure out where you are and how to get to where you want to go. So you stand out as a tourist and have less attention for guarding your belongings.
To the women who place a strap across their body: thieves use knives to cut the strap. Ditto for backpacks.
To the women who use one of those purses with a steel cord in the strap: you can be injured when somebody tries to steal your bag. The thief may not get your money, but your vacation may be spoiled by a dislocated or wrenched shoulder.
It's all around more secure to wear a money belt of some kind, and just keep daytrip necessities in a bag.
To the women who place a strap across their body: thieves use knives to cut the strap. Ditto for backpacks.
To the women who use one of those purses with a steel cord in the strap: you can be injured when somebody tries to steal your bag. The thief may not get your money, but your vacation may be spoiled by a dislocated or wrenched shoulder.
It's all around more secure to wear a money belt of some kind, and just keep daytrip necessities in a bag.
Apr 18th, 2006, 01:03 PM
#69
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Chepar--thanks for the link. I see a couple that are just what I want!
Penguins -- I'll have to work on that; I doubt I look too intimidating, but if someone messes with my daughter or my belongings, they might be in for a surprise.....I hope!
I'm already practicing saying "Va via" in a menacing tone (as recommended by one of my guide books to say to approaching gypsy children.)
Penguins -- I'll have to work on that; I doubt I look too intimidating, but if someone messes with my daughter or my belongings, they might be in for a surprise.....I hope!
I'm already practicing saying "Va via" in a menacing tone (as recommended by one of my guide books to say to approaching gypsy children.)
Apr 18th, 2006, 01:06 PM
#70
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missatlanta-
I'm rather ashamed to admit that I'm a bit of a techno-phobe. I still use a camera with regular print film and have no way of posting a photo.
However, in my prior post to this thread I gave a link to a website that has a picture of the type of keychain I was talking about.
I just remove the clip so only the two split rings with the coil between it remains. I attach one split ring through the zipper tab, the other to whatever it is I'm attaching to my bag. Typically my camera to an outer pocket of the bag, my wallet to an inner pocket. Then I just tuck everything into the pocket and zip it shut - you should be able to close it just about completely.
It may sound like overkill, but after exiting a packed metro car and finding a zipper to my bag open but my camera still attached, I was glad I had done it. Normally I keep a hand on my bag, but at that time I was carrying something in one hand and using my other hand to keep my balance.
It's not foolproof as I guess the cord could be cut, but perhaps it's an added level of hassle a pickpocket doesn't want to deal with.
I'm rather ashamed to admit that I'm a bit of a techno-phobe. I still use a camera with regular print film and have no way of posting a photo.
However, in my prior post to this thread I gave a link to a website that has a picture of the type of keychain I was talking about.
I just remove the clip so only the two split rings with the coil between it remains. I attach one split ring through the zipper tab, the other to whatever it is I'm attaching to my bag. Typically my camera to an outer pocket of the bag, my wallet to an inner pocket. Then I just tuck everything into the pocket and zip it shut - you should be able to close it just about completely.
It may sound like overkill, but after exiting a packed metro car and finding a zipper to my bag open but my camera still attached, I was glad I had done it. Normally I keep a hand on my bag, but at that time I was carrying something in one hand and using my other hand to keep my balance.
It's not foolproof as I guess the cord could be cut, but perhaps it's an added level of hassle a pickpocket doesn't want to deal with.
Apr 18th, 2006, 01:24 PM
#71
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Remember: a determined thief can get anything, but would rather pick on a less well-defended target.
If your gear obviously looks like you've expended some resources on security, the thief will move along.
If your gear obviously looks like you've expended some resources on security, the thief will move along.
Apr 18th, 2006, 02:29 PM
#73
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For heaven's sake, people, loosen up!
I don't deny that there are pickpockets in Europe, but in 40 years of traveling there, I have never lost a penny. And I have carried no money bags, no clip-on thises and thats. I have carried the handbag that I carry at home, which happens to be a city with very little street crime.
A wallet was stolen from my handbag once, on a bus in Mexico City. And it was my fault for not reacting quickly enough. Still, the thief must have been very disappointed; I had the equivalent of $10. in it.
In Europe, I carry up to 500 Euro without a worry.
I don't deny that there are pickpockets in Europe, but in 40 years of traveling there, I have never lost a penny. And I have carried no money bags, no clip-on thises and thats. I have carried the handbag that I carry at home, which happens to be a city with very little street crime.
A wallet was stolen from my handbag once, on a bus in Mexico City. And it was my fault for not reacting quickly enough. Still, the thief must have been very disappointed; I had the equivalent of $10. in it.
In Europe, I carry up to 500 Euro without a worry.
Apr 18th, 2006, 02:55 PM
#74
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Eloise, you reminded me of a lady I met while on a European river cruise (we were both passengers). She dressed very poorly in baggy sweats and jeans and had unkept straggly gray hair. No one would look twice at her. One day I needed some cash and my ATM didn't work, she met me in the dining room, opened her beat-up day pack, removed a ratty looking sweater and showed me her pack was full of cash. She gave me a pack of money and then slung the bag over her shoulder and we were off for a group day tour. She was a real character and I found out much later (we kept in touch) that she was a very very wealthy widow!
So the moral of the story is......who knows.....I'm just bored at work.
So the moral of the story is......who knows.....I'm just bored at work.
Apr 18th, 2006, 03:28 PM
#76
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I carry scans of EVERYTHING on a USB data drive, easy to carry and you can print all or just bits of info as it can be read by virtually any computer. It also carries all email address's and snail mail addresses as well as passport type photos. I even have pictures of home the kids and the dogs to show people , it is amazing the conversations you can strike up in an Internet cafe ! 
Apr 18th, 2006, 03:35 PM
#77
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This thread, and others like it, convinced me to go out and get a money belt last night. I was going to kamakazi it and just do what I do in any city in the USA, but I decided that I would try it out. If I can't stand it, I will not use it.
Apr 18th, 2006, 03:39 PM
#78
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Hey Ladies,
There actually IS a pouch for your bras. Unfortunately, I think I'm leaving too soon to have time to order and receive it.
http://store.yahoo.com/cydneyblu/secretbrapouch.html
But is sure looks like a good idea?
There actually IS a pouch for your bras. Unfortunately, I think I'm leaving too soon to have time to order and receive it.
http://store.yahoo.com/cydneyblu/secretbrapouch.html
But is sure looks like a good idea?
Apr 18th, 2006, 03:43 PM
#79
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I like Marko's idea (it's just a step away from carrying a computer in your pocket) - but be sure that your scans are in a format that any computer can read (such as .gif or .jpg). If you carry .tiff or .pdf scans, you might run into trouble trying to view them.
Apr 18th, 2006, 03:45 PM
#80
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Afterthought: and make sure your thumb drive doesn't require drivers that every Windows may not have. I have an old Lexar like that - I always have to dig up the CD to install it on a new machine.
